Posts
*Ecumenical - Although a new generation of Christians may have doctrinal beliefs they are kept personal for greater unity on catholic doctrine, i.e. the tenants of the Apostle's Creed. I find the sectarianism that kept Catholics and Protestants (or even PCA, OPC, and ARP) denominations for cooperating in the past is looked on with disgust among most of my generation. This is not to say that there will necessarily be new unity within the Church in the 21st century. This is expressed by many in my generation by joining non-denominational churches.
*Intellectual - Anti-fundamentalist to the core. My generation, I have found, is far more concerned with having an intellectually informed faith. A faith that communicates effectively with non-Christian circles and is capable of applying the Christian faith to secular learning and vice versa. There is a growing dissatisfaction with the simple Christianity of a generation ago that was strictly dogmatic. A more complex faith is cherished.
*Grace-oriented - There is an emphasis among my generation of Christians on God's mercy and grace. It is understood that these things were completely undeserved by any human effort and true Christianity is celebrating mercy and grace rather than human good works. The person who shows evidence of God's grace is seen as truer than a person who is a teetotaler and Victorian. Tendency to see salvation entirely as a gift of God without human cooperation or at least limited human cooperation. This is, I think, a reaction to the legalism found in so many Christian churches a generation ago. A danger is ignoring the doctrine of sanctification.
*Non-political - although Christians have political ideals they reject that the Church should be tied to one political movement. They are against special-interests as a whole. They are very anti-Religious Right. They emphasize the Church's role in cultural renewal instead of the government's. As a friend told me recently, "I get very nervous when the Church and the Republican party are bound together."
*Missions/Charity emphasis - Many believe that missions and charity are a primary concern of the Church and the best way to spread the Gospel as they display visually God's love. Though this is certainly distinct from Social Gospel of the late 19th and early 20th centuries because missions and charity are the means not the ends.
I'm concerned about your continued assault against libertarians. I think that many people tend in that direction, not because they're looking for an anything-goes society as much as they recognize the dangers inherent in a government with strong interventionist tendencies. Many people would prefer to have less regulation and intrusion requiring better self-policing (e.g. TV content) than an over-arching nanny state telling you what you can and cannot watch. You discuss a utopia of a reformed, God-centered government yet there's no real sustained example of that in Christian history. Rather than try to rely on the government for it, it seems more prudent to strive for a little government as possible.
ReplyDeleteThere was no assualt in libertarians intended here. I'm merely saying here that parents tend to be more conservative than non-parents. Whether or not they're right about their new found conservatism is a different matter entirely. Thus the fact that young Christians tend to be more libertarian is not something that I necessarily think will continue.
ReplyDeleteI don't know where exactly you get the idea that I believe in utopian governments. I inherently disbelieve in utopias. Perhaps I haven't been clear on this. The only type of good government that is possible in a fallen world is a tolerable one. Also, libertarianism is not the only rational response to a fear of tyranny. Given the effects which I think are dangerous to society I do not think it is the best response to "statism." If you want a good understanding of what I believe about government look at Russell Kirk's 10 principles of conservatism, especially number 9 which deals with limited power AND human passions. I agree pretty much with all ten. What concerns me about libertarianism is that, whatever the good intentions of Christians may be, it is individualistic to the core and that law and order is necessary in a society to some degree. Libertarians believe in a radical theory of private property where, so long as it is my property, I can do with it as I please. But each person forms a part of a community and what they do with their property directly or indirectly affects their neighbors. To this degree there needs to be laws, whether at the community, state, or federal level that ensure that property is used in a way that is responsible to society as a whole. I'll have to write another blog that makes all of this clearer.