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deep ecclesiology

There’s been a lot of talk going on lately about avoiding the “us vs. them” language. As I’ve said in other places, I don’t see that language very much nor do I think it’s inherantly bad. Just because someone says “conservative evangelicalism is not good at —-” doesn’t mean they’re discounting or completely separating themselves from conservative evangelicalism.
I also think that a lot of the “deep ecclesiology” or “generous orthodoxy” language betrays the true behavior - - an ignorance and ignoring of what others actually believe and more importantly, what they live. Asking “why can’t we all just get along” is a really noble question and sounds very holy but it’s meaningless if you don’t actually point out what the others believe or claim to believe.

The TRULY deep ecclesiology brings differences to light, says “no, I don’t agree with this, this is wonky, this is icky, this bugs me…but THIS I like, THIS works, THIS fits” When this honest exchange occurs, deep respect can emerge that is real and raw and not veiled by vague and false humility and acceptance.

I deeply respect people like my husband who are hard core diplomats and peacemakers. We need them. And I need to hear and accept what they have to say - - but peace making is different from peace keeping. Peace keeping is when you simply say what is needed to appease people. There needs to be a bit of peace keeping in all of us - - it’s called a sacrificial laying down of self. That needs to happen. But when there is nothing BUT peace keeping and no peace MAKING, all we do is live in a bizarre superficial world where we walk around in circles chasing after one another but never actually getting anything done.

In the spirit of true deep ecclesiology, I wanted to share this article on the atonement, something I’ve been thinking a lot about (and came up in conversation on my mothering board) in this Easter season. This is the atonement from an “eastern” perspective. There is much about Eastern Orthodoxy I do not agree (which is why I’m not EO) with but they teach sin and the atonement in the best way I have ever heard.

[tags]atonement, easter, Eastern Orthodoxy, deep ecclesiology[/tags]

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5 Comments

  1. Paul — April 5, 2007 #

    Mak, I love the article you linked too, thank you!

    I think we need both a generous orthodoxy and a generous orthopraxy - but that is a lot easier to write than to be. And if you have a view vodka shots it’s also quite a mouthful to say outloud too :)

    I think we can only be as generous in one as we are can be in the t’other but the good news for me is that God is transforming my character so i can be more of both and in the meantime i get to live with my short comings.

    And i’ve no idea who’d want to spend their time talking about us vs them language, particularly when there was vodka shots in the offing ;). Or maybe because of them…

  2. Mak — April 5, 2007 #

    hehe…vodka makes it all so much more exciting doesn’t it? speaking of which, I need more tonic water

  3. Paul — April 5, 2007 #

    hmmm does than mean i need more vodka ;)

  4. zane anderson — April 6, 2007 #

    “The TRULY deep ecclesiology brings differences to light…”

    You nailed it, sister! Anything else is tiresome verbosity.

    Shalom.

  5. Mak — April 6, 2007 #

    Welcome Zane, thanks :)

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