Sadly you are right although I suspect that such attitudes are becoming less frequent in this increasingly post-denominational age. My Granny would not go to any church that was not Church of England. She did not mind the others (apart from Catholics) but they did their thing and she did her thing. I have known people from different denominations (Methodist, Salvation Army, Presbyterian and House Churches) who have had similar attitudes. But I find them far less than I used to.

To my mind someone who models a desire to explore and be true to his own tradition but to do so in a way which is open to other traditions is the British theologian John Colwell. John is a Baptist and is keen to do his theology as a Baptist. But he is heavily inspired by sacramental Christian traditions such as Catholicism (Aquinas is a favourite theologian of his). His recent book “Promise and Presence” is a Baptist exploration of the seven Catholic sacraments! How crazy is THAT?! His latest book “The Rhythm of Doctrine” is a systematic theology built around the liturgical rhythms of the Christian Year (Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pemtecost and All Saints Day) rather than the creeds (the normal basis for systematic theologies). Not many Baptists would think of doing THAT! Cool!

Robin

I tend to agree. The distinctiveness adds to the wider Body of Christ, and as you say enriches it. Yet I have come across prejudice and misunderstanding from most denominations to a degree and sadly this seems to prevent exploration and involvment in the wider body of Christ.

I appreciate the simple approach to complex ideas you present, and it makes me want to consider the book referenced as an introduction to new students to re-thinking our approach to the scriptures, and to historical process in the Body of Christ, with open arms.

Related to worship, we are using this sentence… “We exist to reinvest the energy of the contemporary worship leader with the riches of the ancient past, toward our emerging future.”

Remembering The Future resonates with these ideas.

It recalls to mind a favorite Madeleine L’Engel quote, “I can’t wait until I remember how to walk on water.” Eldredge suggested a few years ago that to “forget” is one of the clearest evidences that the world is fallen.

Thank you for calling us to remember.

Thanks – I appreciate where you are coming from. There is something deeper – more fundamental – beneath our denominational differences. “Mere Christianity” as C.S. Lewis called it. And yet I am also happy for people to embrace the specific version of Christianity represented by their own tradition (Anglican, Baptist or whatever). I am sure that you would agree. Each tradition has its own distinctives and these can be very valuable. For me the question is whether these diverse traditions are open to learn from each other and, more importantly, from the Early Church. Such openness enriches denominational versions of the faith rather than turning everything into a murky grey. Deep Church Baptists will not be identical with Deep Church Anglicans or Deep Church Pentecostals! It also keeps denominational traditions open to critique so that they are never made impervious to correction.

Robin

I was told at a previous church that I should really make my mind up, amke a commitment to one or the other.

I was doing evening song with my father at his Anglican church and attending an evangelical church with my girlfriend on sundays.

Needless to say I didn’t choose. You see I am a Christian, I am not a Catholic or Evangelical. If the evangelical church suddenly dissapeared would I no longer be a Christian? no.

I am just a Christian, influenced by the wider body of Christ and I love it!

this is why I find myself drawn to deep church. It is wiling to not just stand in the center, but passionate about living there, growing there, and encouraging the universal church to struggle in that place.

Thanks Robin.

peace

Understanding the meaning correctly, even one verse may need investigating and then i’m into who has written what about this verse, then how does that tie in with this passage and relate to this book of the bible.

So I tend to read books about certain aspects of the bible by Authors both old and new that have been recomended or that I trust, this of course means that I do not find myself locked into one tradition and then this of course leads me into other traditions and I feel gives me a wider experience of the body of Christ which if I am really honest I love.

Being non-denominational has its advangtages, I don’t close my mind to somethging because it’s catholic or anglican. It seems to me that if we are to explore deep church we must go forward with an open mind and try to put any preconcieved ideas aside.

At my home church we use many different aspects of the wider church tradition, especially within our services that fall outside sundays. Good friday, ash wednesday and I believe more and more people are connecting to God through these practices, we use liturgy, imaginative reflection, worship both sung and spoken and much more.