What's Not Said: Good News
The apology from a pastor given at the web page is remarkable for its clarity and simplicity. Many times what remains unsaid in such apologies is significant, often dark. What remains unsaid here is more a result of ignorance.
I certainly do not wish to take away from the beauty of the humility shown at the document linked to below. But for those who may be interested in such things, I have found a church which is indeed different, though not perfect. The historic church does not necessarily need to shoulder all the blame for the modern short-comings found in the American church. What I am referring to is another church which is not western; that is the Orthodox Church, sometimes called the Eastern Orthodox Church. For those who can deal with what at first seems like a strange liturgy and a small array of unexpected customs, the historic Orthodox Church has less to apologize for than some other churches. Or shall we say Christians?
This is where a fuller accounting of things than given in the Presbyterian pastor's letter is needed. The part I am most concerned about is the decline in attendance at and approval of the modern American, western church. This is indeed a precipitous decline according to the latest Pew study which is being quoted widely. What I wish to underscore here is that from my experience there is no need to be angry with or reject the Orthodox Church, with one caveat. The exception is the relative lack of interest on the part of Orthodoxy in economic systems. I have read the statement on the economy from the Greek Orthodox Church, for example. Here we find small comfort and little light, though the church is clearly trying.
The problem is the profit system simply cannot be justified in light of the Scriptures. I have searched and searched trying to find an economic system which is explained by Biblical scholars with their approval of said system. So far, I have been unable to find any such treatise. I will keep looking. Perhaps some kind soul can enlighten me in this regard.
In the meantime, the short paper below is a start. Let's not throw the baby out with the bath water. Instead let's be honest critics of the church without demeaning the beauty of the Gospel message of love and justice.
A Pastor's Apology
The apology from a pastor given at the web page is remarkable for its clarity and simplicity. Many times what remains unsaid in such apologies is significant, often dark. What remains unsaid here is more a result of ignorance.
I certainly do not wish to take away from the beauty of the humility shown at the document linked to below. But for those who may be interested in such things, I have found a church which is indeed different, though not perfect. The historic church does not necessarily need to shoulder all the blame for the modern short-comings found in the American church. What I am referring to is another church which is not western; that is the Orthodox Church, sometimes called the Eastern Orthodox Church. For those who can deal with what at first seems like a strange liturgy and a small array of unexpected customs, the historic Orthodox Church has less to apologize for than some other churches. Or shall we say Christians?
This is where a fuller accounting of things than given in the Presbyterian pastor's letter is needed. The part I am most concerned about is the decline in attendance at and approval of the modern American, western church. This is indeed a precipitous decline according to the latest Pew study which is being quoted widely. What I wish to underscore here is that from my experience there is no need to be angry with or reject the Orthodox Church, with one caveat. The exception is the relative lack of interest on the part of Orthodoxy in economic systems. I have read the statement on the economy from the Greek Orthodox Church, for example. Here we find small comfort and little light, though the church is clearly trying.
The problem is the profit system simply cannot be justified in light of the Scriptures. I have searched and searched trying to find an economic system which is explained by Biblical scholars with their approval of said system. So far, I have been unable to find any such treatise. I will keep looking. Perhaps some kind soul can enlighten me in this regard.
In the meantime, the short paper below is a start. Let's not throw the baby out with the bath water. Instead let's be honest critics of the church without demeaning the beauty of the Gospel message of love and justice.
A Pastor's Apology
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