Before
As I try to figure out where I fit, I’ve been thinking more about where I’ve come from.
I was born and raised in a Reformed Episcopal church. It’s a small denomination, but theologically is (or at least was) pretty close to presbyterian. They keep the liturgical tradition of the Episcopal church, which I love. They also keep the the church leadership structure of the episcopal church, which I’m not crazy about. Otherwise it’s very “reformed” in the same sort of calvanistic way as the Presbyterian church (in fact, they were so close that when my churches pastor retired when I was in high school a presbyterian pastor was hired as our interim).
In college I became very active in leadership with InterVarsity christian fellowship, an interdenominational group. I had lots of friends with all sorts of theological backgrounds. Through that group I learned a lot respecting differing views throughout christendom and focusing on what is really important, what one of my pastors would later describe to me as the “non-negotiables”, of our faith.
Later I went to work as an intern at a Presbyterian church, a church in the more traditional PCA. I agreed with a lot of their theology, some not so much. After that I worked for three years in another presbyterian church, this time a church in the more liberal PCUSA. Once again, I agreed with a lot of their beliefs, and found some things that I didn’t agree with.
Now I’m considering joining a Baptist church, and I’m really enjoying the “emergent church” conversations that are going one throughout the area/country/world.
I must seem VERY confused. After all, I don’t think there is any group/denomination out there that I theologically agree with 100%. So, if that’s the case where do I fit? Am I presbyterian, reformed episcopal, am I reformed at all? Am I interdenominational, non-denominational, baptist, emergent?
In the end I have come to view it very similarly to how I view my cultural heritage. Americans have a fascination with “what” we are. Almost everyone I know can tell you what country or countries their ancestors came from, even if it’s been a hundred years or more since their family lived there. I’m no different, I know that I’m on quarter British, one quarter German, one quarter Norwegian and one quarter Ukrainian. However, somewhere around High School I realized that while it’s important to know where we come from it’s not who I am, I AM American.
I view my theological background much the same way. I’m some strange mix of reformed episcopal and presbyterian calvanism with emerging tendencies, but I AM a Christian. I’m tired of being labeled, and I’m tired of trying to label myself, I just want to follow Christ.
Just my $.02
mo
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I currently live, worship, and teach on the Navajo Reservation. This is not "mission" work, I am here by choice and by the grace of God. Fitting in for me has become a real issue, since I am one of the few white people in this community. Kind of like being the only United Methodist at a Charasmatic Worship service. I too am tired of labels. I am glad that the LORD does not expect us to all be the same...that His Body has many parts. Remember in all of this that the main thing is the main thing is the answer to the question, who then do you say I am????He is Jesus, the Christ!
Maryellen, that must be tough, but I'm sure it's exciting too. God must be teaching you SO much through that experience. I'd love to hear more about it.
ultimately, i go w/ what my wife says: "i'm a christian." hehehe. the whole denominational thing is an unfortunate result of PROTESTantism. maybe someday our children will have less of a difficulty dealing with all this stuff...
Just one thing, let's not be so quick to diss protestantism/denominationalism. Maybe it's just the historian in me, but I believe it had/has it's place.
I for one, am interested to see how the denominations deal with the change from modernism into the new emerging culture, but more on that later.
as far as weathering the whole transitional thing, i think that some denominations will make it through (perhaps most). they'll look/opperate differently, and it'll be our generation and some of our parents generation that makes it happen. it's going to be those that don't fall into either extreme of: (1) no change/ignoring culture or (2) total theological revamp and courting the culture (syncretism).
btw, i heard an awesome brief historical thing about the papacy on NPR today. you can probably find it on the web. brought me back to my history of christianity classes.......
We have similar thoughts on the transition thing...but we already knew that. I'm going to try to flesh out my thoughts a little more on the last post in this series.
(i, um, made up that number. but you get the idea.)