It’s an interesting question TV and something I’ve thought about a bit lately - not with any great revelations I might add.
One of the questions that arises after coming to believe in UR is this very question - then what function now does the church as an organised body have for us as individuals?
Aside from the spiritual benefits of encouragement for one another, praying and worshipping together and the benefits in all sorts of ways of the social network that a church provides ,traditionally the existence of 'the church was I think seen as mainly in terms of evangelism (obviously more so amongst evangelical groups)- spreading the gospel "to save the Lost ".The added benefits of being in the body of Christ perhaps almost an aside (though extremely important - I don’t mean to minimise these, indeed if these were the only purpose then I think the ‘church’ is worthy just by virtue of these benefits alone. However, they are a function of church as a group small or large and I don’t think require an organised institution. Neither do I want to appear to be viewing it only from a perspective of what I/we can get out of it but you will come to see the point I’m getting at I hope).
The point is that (again, I speak for myself) the reality is that often it has become little more than a pleasurable (or not)‘club’; accompanied perhaps by a background sense (guilt) that one wasn’t quite fulfilling the gospel commission but the hope that on a daily basis you displayed some sort of pious example. Usually of course realising that that too was a dismal failure!
Cindy’s definition:
I would agree with you Cindy.
Of course, the day to day expression of this is often I think, for the average christian, displayed through there own small circle and being part of that wider christian community is expressed through their own small band of believers usually within their own denomination.
Typically, this might also involve very little interaction with other christians of another pursuasion who are even deemed in many cases to be, at best, misguided and worst, heretical or “of the devil”. So much for the unity of the body of Christ.
( I do think this is something that is changing)
Now for me at least and my church background, I may be cynical but I realise that my personal efforts at classical evangelism were poor in the extreme and largely non-existent if I’m truthful, and without passing any dispersions I suspect this is/was true of many.
At the coal face the immediate church (group) would from time to time enthusiastically present evangelistic campaigns and efforts to win the Lost or poach from other misguided ‘christians’ groups.These efforts typically met with mixed results, at least from a quantifiable perspective ( interest in bible studies ,baptism etc. One would hope of course some seed had been planted.
I apologise if I sound too cynical because obviously I do and often I am! The world according to Sturmy may be a totally different view to other worthies!
Even prior to becoming a CU from as long as I can remember I have felt quite cynical about much of the organised churches function. This is compounded now that it’s difficult to get behind anything from an organised level given that I would be pedalling a gospel that I now see as “not the gospel”.
TV said:
I’m inclined to agree with you here TV.
This of course may include christian’s in the sense of those that have a knowledge and some kind of relationship with Christ ( I hate the term relationship but it will do here) and others perhaps in the absence of any working knowledge of christianity who nevertheless are ‘doers of the law’, if you like.
I’ve asked myself increasingly of late that if I were to die tomorrow would the world have been a better place for me having been in it? Have I been the fragrance of Christ in the world rather than the stench of self interest? How much effort has been spent wrestling my own demons and fighting the rearguard without much forward progress.
Now as a Universalist Christian if I am part of the “advanced guard” what am I really meant to be doing in the world? Declaring to the world the truly good news that Christ has done it all?
Setting people straight to protect them from some future purgatorial correction ?(Not sure at present to what degree I believe in this and seeing myself as ‘having responsibility for saving’ people from the wrath of God, albeit for their eventual reconciliation ,in practice doesn’t seem far removed from the previous concept of our responsibility for preventing their annihilation or eternity in hell; even if we do give a nod to the Holy Spirit and say we are only the vehicle through which the Holy Sp. works).
When it’s all boiled down I’m really more inclined to believe the truth lies with what you’ve quoted above TV.; perhaps that’s good if that really is where it’s at. In some ways a relief and yet some how disconcerting (it’s even harder to tick the boxes!)
It still poses the question though doesn’t it - what of the institutional church? Is it a vehicle to work through or is it defunct?
If your above definition is closer to the real eklesia what role does institutional church play?
The Institutional church has many worthwhile entities that are arguably of great benefit in the world eg. medical, educational etc and would fulfill many of the criteria cited…
Yet behind all this there is often a gospel that we as CU’s would consider false or at least misguided.
Are we perpetuating a false gospel by supporting institutions that have this as their raison d’etre, so to speak?
Yet only to enjoy their facilities and a place to meet other christians seems hypocritical; however to disassociate cuts off not only an avenue of interaction with others but one of the areas where it is possible present UR… But I digress.
Perhaps one can ask too many questions and spend too much time analysing and navel gazing and should just get on with it - trusting in Christ to look after his own bride (however she is composed) and just get on with life where one finds themselves trusting that somehow ‘all’s well that ends well’.
Just the musings of a humble scribe really. lol. Cheers S
And I’m very glad you are.