The Hermeneutic of the Gospel – Part 1

This is essentially an extension of previous posts that have served to reflect in different and some might say obscure ways, on Lesslie Newbigin’s belief that the church is “the hermeneutic of the Gospel.” As such, this post serves primarily as a critique of my Jesus-following life, while at the same time also modestly underpinning my view that ecclesiological, worldview, and missiological change (in some cases substantial change) needs to happen if the church in the Protestant “West” is in fact to serve as a faithful hermeneutic of the Gospel in a new century.

It might also serve as a gentle reminder that if the so-called “emerging church movement, society” – or whatever – is to be more than a passing fad it will be critical that there is a significant movement from conversation to Gospel / Kingdom embodiment that is profoundly shaped by the ecclesiological, missiological, and theological critique / protest that the emerging conversation directs (in part) at what Chris Erdman refers to as “church, [that is] so highly managed and so deeply centered in culture, and it’s worship, so tightly scripted and held by the experts, [that it] has made the God whom we are to serve more of an Object that we the established leaders seek to manage and control… God, gospel, Kingdom, and the ecclesia that springs from them all is objectified, studied, systemized, and rendered too tame…  The Emergent Church, whatever else it might be, is at least this—a protest against the captivities of the church…”

The emerging movement has a particular view of the world and the roles of the church within that world.

I hear Karen Ward encouraging “embodiment” too – “…we need to begin, not with only 'organizing' the society, but also with paying attention to real, incarnate examples of emergent communities, so people can learn via example, as without experiencing what this is about, it can remain a head trip (among the emergentia /emergerati)…” You can read her important post here.

Anyway, all of what follows in four parts is from Brian J. Walsh & Sylvia Keesmaat’s recently published book Colossians Remixed: Subverting the Empire (pp. 129-31). It’s an important book and my hope is that by quoting from it and interacting with it, even if only in a small way, more people will get a copy and read / discuss it.

* All “boldened” sections have been highlighted by me. 

“…When people are first attracted to another worldview [for example, a Christian worldview] it is usually because of the lived lives, the praxis of the community that holds it. The truth of the worldview must be embodied if it is to be known…”

At this point Walsh & Keesmaat quote Phillip Kenneson (see also his excellent book: Life on the Vine: Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit in Christian Community).

“…To often appeals to the objective truth of the gospel have serves as a means for the church to evade responsibility to live faithfully before the world. In short, Christians insisted that the gospel was objectively true regardless of how they lived. The paradigm I’m advocating frankly admits that all truth claims require for their widespread acceptance the testimony* of trusted and thereby authorised witnesses…what our world is waiting for is not more incessant talk about objective truth, but an embodied witness that clearly demonstrates why anyone should care about any of this in the first place…”

* When I became a Christian in the late 80’s “giving one’s testimony” was a very important part of evangelism. What Kenneson is directing our attention too is more than a verbal telling of my story and the way that God “saved me;” his is an important re-emphasis of the critical importance of individual and especially communal embodiment.   

To be continued…       

Comments

[ron cole]

Great opening discussion Paul...we had alot of great table discussion around this at the Cafe' last evening. Have we also in a sense of personalizing the gospel...have caused it to shrink. We can talk the talk...but until towns/ cities see not hear...the living Gospel flowing out of " real " christ like communities we will have little impact. People who are hungering for life...need more than our lifeless words.

[Chris Erdman]

Paul, this is all very good and makes me want to buy the book. Which I will. And your quote from my post sounds so much better when you quote it than when I wrote it. Thanks for your teaching.