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Jesus In Every Age

Jesus In Every Age. Session Seven : Jesus and the Global Church Today. Jesus in Contemporary Scholarship. The “Quest for the Historical Jesus” that emerged from the Enlightenment biographies has declined in importance

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Jesus In Every Age

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  1. Jesus In Every Age

  2. Session Seven: Jesus and the Global Church Today

  3. Jesus in Contemporary Scholarship The “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

  4. Jesus and Liturgical Reform Roman 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

  5. 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

  6. Christianity and the Global South The 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

  7. 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 world • Focus on the miraculous, confrontation with spiritual forces • Experience of poverty, dislocation, persecution • Greater emphasis on Old Testament—tribal divisions, sacrificial religion, holy places, taboos—can identify directly with Jesus’ engagement with his own culture

  8. Pentecostalism and Global Christianity Pentecostalism 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

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