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The Chimera of Relevance
by James Hitchcock
June 20, 2003
A Methodist bishop describes
traditional teachings about Jesus -- His divinity, His resurrection,
the atonement -- as "myths." Even the word "God",
according to Bishop Joe Sprague, does not mean a supreme being
"out there in the beyond". In one form or another such
revisions have been going on for three centuries, and it is not
only a Protestant phenomenon -- there are Catholics saying much
the same.
The purpose for these revisions is supposedly to "help confused
believers" who cannot accept "the stilted theological
language of the ancient creeds", the chief rationale for
liberal theology over three centuries.
There are indeed people who cannot understand the traditional
doctrines of Christianity. But the jury brought in its verdict
on this strategy some time ago -- the continuing watering down
of Christian beliefs does overcome this skepticism but in fact
has the opposite affect.
The clearest evidence is the fact that for decades the "mainstream"
churches which adopted theological liberalism have been losing
members, some of them hemorrhaging badly, as more conservative
churches have continued to grow. Sometimes the doubters of whom
Bishop Sprague is solicitous undergo conversion and ardently
embrace orthodox belief. Most do not. But there is little evidence
that skeptical modern people are being attracted to liberal theology.
It is significant that in Bishop Sprague's address, at a Methodist
seminary, he appears to have spent more time dismissing the historic
creeds than expounding what is true about the Christian faith.
Liberal theology is primarily a way by which troubled Christians
can come to terms with their doubts, not a way by which they
can be brought to renewed faith. Such theology often serves as
a way station on the road on which the doubters finally free
themselves from belief completely. Hence the steady loss of membership
by liberal churches.
There is nothing in Christian doctrine which revisionists are
unwilling to deny (remember the "death of God" theology?),
until finally there is almost nothing left. I suspect that most
non-believers would read Bishop Sprague's claim that God is "the
sound image we humans employ to point to the very essence of
it all..." as a desperate attempt to salvage something by
using pretentious language for things the skeptic thinks are
best understood without reference to God at all.
Recently I read about Protestant congregations that have introduced
lively contemporary music and informal styles of worship as a
way of attracting members. The battle over liturgy goes on in
the Catholic Church as well and shows no sign of being resolved
this side of the Second Coming.
To some extent this is a matter of taste, but there is more to
it. Do we really want to say that Bach's music is not better
than that of ....? (Fill in the blank. I won't get personal.)
But what struck me was a Lutheran pastor's explanation for these
new forms of worship -- "serving people who think traditional
worship is boring".
No doubt for some people it is. But reference to Bach puts this
in perspective -- most worthwhile things in life are boring at
least some of the time. Even the best students probably find
Friday night in the pub more enjoyable than physics or philosophy,
poetry or painting. Ordinary human responsibilities -- to family
and other human beings -- often seem like drudgery.
Abandoning traditional forms of worship because some people find
them boring is to surrender to the spirit of the age in a way
which can ultimately be fatal, not because newer forms of worship
are without value but because churches should not cater to the
contemporary addiction to excitement.
The difference between art and entertainment, between real literature
and thrillers, is that the former makes strong demands on us,
and the more we respond the more rewarding is the experience.
Entertainment simply washes over us, drawing us without effort
into a fleeting excitement.
The historic creeds of Christianity are "meaningless"
to many people who have never made an effort to understand them
and do not even see why they should. An approach to religion
which promises to "meet people where they are" runs
the risk of simply leaving them where they are, which is scarcely
what is meant by preaching the Gospel.
James
Hitchcock, professor
of history at St. Louis University, writes and lectures on contemporary
Church matters. His column appears in the diocesan press. Dr.
Hitchcock's The Supreme Court and Religion in American
Life, Vol. 1 The Odyssey
of the Religion Clauses
and Vol.
II From 'Higher Law' to 'Sectarian Scruples', were released by Princeton
University Press September 2, 2004.
E-Mail: Dr.
James Hitchcock
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