LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE MASTER
corona del mar, california
PROGRESSIVE CHRISTIANITY
According to some currently standard accounts of the Christian faith within the mainline churches, called by many 'Progressive Christianity', the Christian message is a call to social and economic justice, radical inclusiveness and unconditional affirmation. If that is so, then I would propose it is tantamount to throwing a drowning man a cannon ball.
Lets be clear. Working for social and economic justice are fine. But, there is nothing uniquely Christian about being concerned with these things. These are matters that should occupy the concern of the entire human race. No religious sensibility, Christian or otherwise, is necessary to have these concerns. They are housekeeping matters within the human community. Christians also have a stake in working for a just world insofar as they are possible. But that is just the point. In a sinful world, estranged from God, they are finally not possible. Read the first three chapters of the Book of Romans and then see if you have any illusions left about OUR capacity to bring about a peaceful and just world.
The Christian cause cannot finally be equated with propping up the human project no matter how noble the effort. Saint Paul, no stranger to encouraging Christians to care for others, understood this very well. He sets us all straight when he admonishes that the first and primary business of the church is to proclaim the crucified and risen Christ (to know nothing except Christ crucified.) For it is in the foolishness of what we preach (Paul's words) that God rescues sinners from sin, death and the power of the devil, by the peace and justice offered through Christs death on the cross.
The Church is distinguished by it's message, not it's works.
What does this mean for us? As citizens of the human community we join with all people everywhere in our common human concern for peace and justice. As citizens of Gods kingdom, however, we know that these human efforts will never find fulfillment in this world. We do not await an earthly utopia but a heavenly kingdom, as the Word of God promises. The message of peace and justice, therefore, that should occupy the center of the churchs life and mission is the peace of God that comes through a living relationship with Jesus Christ; and the justice of God through which sinners are declared righteous, forgiven and free, by grace through faith, for Jesus sake!
Grace to you,
Pastor Mark Anderson
