The ancient paths

Thus says the LORD: "Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.' (Jer 6:16)

I listened to the White Horse Inn last Saturday night because the guest seemed more interesting than the normal round table discussions featuring the "Word and Sacrament"' mantra. The episode featured a discussion between Michael Horton and Jim Belcher about Jim's book, Deep Church: A Third Way Beyond Emerging and Traditional . The book looks interesting because even though it sounds like he approaches things from a pretty traditional Reformed ecclesiology, he also gives a legitimate hearing to opposing views. That is something I found lacking in Why We Love The Church where critics were mocked and their concerns were disregarded.

There was a lot of the normal stuff from the White Horse Inn, including Horton trying to link everyone who is not a confessionally Reformed (by his definition) Christian with Charles Finney. That broad brush he and others wield (and I have been guilty of this as well) is getting broader by the day. At one point Jim Belcher talked about his concern that the church needs ordained ministers to make sure that the "sacraments" are done "the right way" as if we are given a particular order in the Bible, as if there is a liturgy and as if there is even a hint of ordained "officers" administering the Supper. But there was also lots of valuable discussion.

One of the things Belcher said that really resonated was the idea of "ancient", ancient methods and ancient confessions. What I (and many, many others) am espousing is not some new invention, it is not a "postmodern" thing. It is as ancient as our faith itself. I am seeking the ancient model of the church coupled with the ancient doctrines of the church. Both extremes have abandoned one or the other.

Many people call for a return to a community focused, mission oriented "way of life" Christianity but in doing so they have abandoned the historic faith. It seems as if in rejection the traditional church with all of its baggage they have elected to abandon orthodoxy. I have no interest in seeking a more Biblical church model where the Biblical truth is abandoned because you cannot have Biblical fellowship where the truth is not present.

On the other hand, let me be clear: the traditional church does not have a corner on the orthodoxy market. You can (and you must!) be orthodox in doctrine and still have a meaningful community, a meaningful relational model that is not encumbered with rituals and traditions designed to replace genuine fellowship and to subcontract out Christian ministry. The ancient paths and the tradition bound church are not inseparable. All too often it seems that having the right soteriology gives you a pass on examining your ecclesiology and that should not be the case.

Traditionalist Christianity has come to be seen as having grabbed orthodoxy with both hands and said: "orthodoxy is our ball and if you want it, you have to play by our rules." Others see this and say "If that is what it means to be doctrinally orthodox, I don't want any part of it" and chuck the baby out with the bathwater. There is no reason that we cannot walk in the ancient ways of the church and hold fast to the ancient truths. It is not easy and it will not come without cost, but I am convinced the church will never be healthy until we get closer to merging Biblical orthodoxy and Biblical church practices. The ancient ways are not obsolete, we need them now more than ever.