Christianity Today: Emerging Theology, Liberal Politics
...Liberal politics and emerging theology go hand in hand. But what is the connection? Must one lead to the other?
Christians are drawn to the emerging church for many reasons. Many are uncomfortable with the evangelical status quo, especially the bond between conservative politics and conservative theology. Others simply see the winds of culture shifting, and they don't want to be left behind. But I would suggest some deeper connections between liberal politics and emerging theology. ...
But despite the emerging church's talk about community, postmodernism actually encourages greater individualism. It does this through a view called perspectivalism. At its best, perspectivalism reminds us that our knowledge is limited and conditioned at least in part by our experience. ... however, this means all theology is temporary. It is relative; it doesn't transcend time or geography. Extreme perspectivalism can wreak havoc on biblical hermeneutics. How are we supposed to apply the Bible's teaching today? ...
...This kind of perspectivalism compounds existing problems for evangelicals trying to make policy judgments. Evangelicals don't have a long history of sophisticated political thinking. We too often confuse ends with means. ...
...History teaches us another lesson. We celebrate those Christians like Bonhoeffer or Wilberforce who stood on biblical principle and challenged the evils of their day. Timeless theology enabled them to see what their contemporaries sinfully ignored....
Christians are drawn to the emerging church for many reasons. Many are uncomfortable with the evangelical status quo, especially the bond between conservative politics and conservative theology. Others simply see the winds of culture shifting, and they don't want to be left behind. But I would suggest some deeper connections between liberal politics and emerging theology. ...
But despite the emerging church's talk about community, postmodernism actually encourages greater individualism. It does this through a view called perspectivalism. At its best, perspectivalism reminds us that our knowledge is limited and conditioned at least in part by our experience. ... however, this means all theology is temporary. It is relative; it doesn't transcend time or geography. Extreme perspectivalism can wreak havoc on biblical hermeneutics. How are we supposed to apply the Bible's teaching today? ...
...This kind of perspectivalism compounds existing problems for evangelicals trying to make policy judgments. Evangelicals don't have a long history of sophisticated political thinking. We too often confuse ends with means. ...
...History teaches us another lesson. We celebrate those Christians like Bonhoeffer or Wilberforce who stood on biblical principle and challenged the evils of their day. Timeless theology enabled them to see what their contemporaries sinfully ignored....
Collin Hansen offers some wonderful insights in this article.
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