Jesus In Every Age

 

Session Seven: Jesus and the Global Church Today

Jesus in Contemporary ScholarshipThe “Quest for the Historical Jesus” that

emerged from the Enlightenment biographies has declined in importance

The “Jesus Seminar” infamously rated the historicity of Gospel passages with a bead system—largely inactive since 2005

Decline of liberal Protestantism has reduced scholarly interest in a “churchless Jesus,” though the popularity of conspiracy theory fiction [DaVinci Code] indicates some popular interest

Reza Aslan’s current bestseller Zealot very similar to Schweitzer—will be a scholarly blip.

Scholarship is currently more interested in putting Jesus in wider theological context

N. T. Wright’s work emphasizes continuity between Jewish theology, Jesus and Paul

Canonical and literary criticism very popular—how Gospels were used by the church, Creed as a guiding source for interpretation

Jesus and Liturgical ReformRoman Catholic and Mainline Protestant Churches

shared in a liturgical reforms since 1962 that made common worship more Christocentric and focused attention on new themes in theology and the Christian life

The Paschal Mystery: Christ’s death, resurrection and living presence in the Church as the center of Christian life

Christ the High Priest: focus on worship as the center of Christian life, intersection of divine and human life that empowers God’s people for life in the world

Christ the Servant: ministry seen call of all Christians, emphasis on diverse ministries, service to the world

Baptism into Christ: greater focus on the vocation given in Baptism as a life-long pattern of conversion, faith and ministry

Sacramental Community: focus on regular reception of Eucharist and common worship as source of unity

Jesus and Popular Religion American Christianity is dominated by

evangelical Protestantism—public face of the faith

Emphasis on immanent, approachable Jesus—”personal relationship”

Contemporary Christian music—based on love song patterns—emotional focus

Pragmatic, optimistic faith—”What Would Jesus Do?” ethic

Public religiosity significant in some cultural sectors: politics, business, sports—emphasis often on Jesus as guide, inspiration, helper

Christianity and the Global SouthThe Church is growing very rapidly in the

Global South—by 2025, Asia and Africa will have largest Christian populations, and by 2050, a dominantly African faith

Global South Christian patterns will increasingly set the norm for faith expression

Strongly Biblical—many cultural continuities

Evangelistic—focus on spreading the faith

Charismatic--healing, exorcism, spiritual gifts

Contextualized/Syncretistic—many elements from pre-Christian cultures preserved

Church as Political Force—especially in conflict with radicalized Islam

Reading the Gospels in the Global South“Guatemala certainly feels Biblical. Sheep, swine, donkeys, serpents—these are everywhere, as are centurions, all manner of wandering false prophets, Pharisees, lepers and whores. The poor, rural, mainly Mayan landscape has an aura of the miraculous…[It] is the perfect backdrop for religious parables about fields both fertile and barren, fruits and harvests, hunger and plenty.” Francisco Goldman

Biblical stories have great power for Global South Christians because they come from societies whose cultural practices are closer to the Bible’s preindustrial worldFocus on the miraculous, confrontation with spiritual forcesExperience of poverty, dislocation, persecutionGreater emphasis on Old Testament—tribal divisions, sacrificial religion, holy places, taboos—can identify directly with Jesus’ engagement with his own culture

Pentecostalism and Global ChristianityPentecostalism has grown dramatically in

Global South—dominant faith, even within RC and mainline Protestant Churches—projected to become dominant worldwide by 2050

Movement began in US in 1906—marked by egalitarianism, emotional worship, direct experience of spiritual power

Dramatic growth in GS since 1970’s—widespread focus on healing, exorcism

Prosperity Gospel—focus on clean, disciplined living and connection between faith and wealth

Little central authority—leads to diverse, inculturated practice

More focused on Holy Spirit, less on Jesus