One of the stumbling-blocks that newcomers encounter if they venture into a church is the set menu. The Church knows the answers and delivers them. Newcomers have their own questions and maybe the accompanying answers; this is ignored. As one pundit put it, ‘If the conclusions are prescribed, the study is precluded.’
People come to consider what the Church offers as they consider any other offer in the market-place. Indeed, their experience at school has encouraged a general scepticism that is a healthy defence mechanism in a society that runs on advertising, sound-bites and a level playing-field. That scepticism is a proper and unavoidable part of a 21st century outlook. Competing claims about economic efficiency, a well-run health service and development aid have to be examined and choices made. Why should not the same be true of a Church?
Churches are not happy with competition. The tendency is to find formulae that soft-pedal differences and promote harmony. This is organisational common-sense but it does not make for an enticing agenda.
The Church would turn into something else altogether if it became a centre for metaphysical speculation or a choice of philosophies. If Stoicism is getting along nicely for some members of society, why endeavour to change their outlook? Indeed, what if the Church or its representatives lost the argument? At the present time the Church is either doing that or it is facing a huge problem of indifference. People are just not interested in what the Church may have to say.
At least, not as the arbiter of all discussion on theology. People are happy to make up their own mind about agnosticism, a commitment to one of the major religious groups or membership of a fringe group (such as American protestant mega-churches).
Conformity is not enough. For those who made up their minds long ago about the Christian faith it is right and proper that worship should predominate in their coming together. But there must always be a place for those who are interested but so far unconvinced. That was certainly the case in the New Testament record.
If you have a comment on this post please send an email to Revd John King at johnc.king@talktalk.net Edited extracts may be published. To forward this to a friend click on the chain icon below.