drew moser: The Gospel in a Pomo Society 2.0

journal : : field notes

The Gospel in a Pomo Society 2.0

16 July 2006

In this second installment of Newbigin's fantastic work, we're going to look at the roots of pluralism (ch. 2).

First, I find it fascinating the connection Newbigin weaves between the recent spiritual emphasis of having a 'faith of your own' (p. 15) to the propagation of pluralism. In other words, our modern church's unhealthy (at times) emphasis of privatized faith has bolstered pluralism. As the saying goes, 'our faith is personal, but never private.' As soon as it becomes privatized, it becomes too insular to have any communal or global impact.

With this foundational point made, Newbigin rightly observes that "The way we understand human life depends on what conception we have of the human story. What is the real story of which my life is a part?" (15) This I believe, is the fundamental question of humanity, especially postmodern humanity. Is it any wonder our culture has such an obsession with 'reality' TV? Is is any wonder our culture has such an obsession with Hollywood? We are drawn to stories, and lying beneath such superficiality is a desperate, tenacious search for the Grand Story that makes sense of all other stories.

He then ventures into a wise exploration of doubt and knowledge, which can best be summed up by this: "Certainly if, in affirming what I believe to be truth, I suggest that I possess the truth in such a way that I have nothing more to learn, I am rightly condemned." (22) Thus, doubt plays a healthy role in our pursuit of Truth, a quest marked with humility. In my ministry to young adults, I deal with so many who feel serious shame when doubt creeps to the fore of their souls. It's been ingrained within them NOT to question. Simply toe the church line, show up for stuff, and keep your behavior in check and your ticket to heaven won't be revoked. Doubt and spiritual wrestling are thus shut out. The result: a stunted faith void of PRAXIS.

Knowing thus, has a subjective and objective pole. It's objective in that it is larger than us, something we ourselves cannot simply grasp, control, and propogate for our own benefit. Yet: "It is subjective in that it is I who know...which requires my personal committment, (and) in the end, I have to take personal responsibility for my beliefs." (23) We can't detach ourselves from culture and tradition. There's no such vacuum.

The problem, according to Newbigin, is that we have created a false dichotomy between the subjective and objective poles.

What is needed, thus, is an understanding, a communication, and an expression of the gospel that values both. If we err too subjective, we merely foster the mish mash of pluralism, focusing simply on the individual's privatized faith. Simple subjectivity affords us "no grounds for thinking that Christians have any right...to seek the conversion of (other religions) neighbors to the Christian faith." (25) If we err too objective, our faith will be void of Story, void of reality, void of life. Our faith will be reduced to simple doctrinal laundry lists to be checked off.

This, my friends, is PRAXIS.

Technorati Tags:
leslie newbigin
the gospel in a pluralist society
praxis

Labels: newbigin