Doctrine does not make fellowship life-giving, rather, doctrine with practice. In other words, the practice of the faith keeps church from being boring or hurtful. It is the joy and even excitement of growing in a community and in watching others become part of your community that makes fellowship life-giving. But historically the theology related to growth in community became separated from doctrinal theology. This is a big reason why churches are often boring or hurtful. This blog looks at this problem.
With the advent of the skepticism and modernism of the 18th and 19th centuries the western church found itself on the doctrinal defensive again. The church responded in the 20th century by reasserting its fundamental doctrines, as it needed to. But much of the church became preoccupied with fighting unbelief. By allowing skeptics to focus the church primarily on doctrine the church once again neglected brotherly love inside and outside the church. Progress was made in other areas such as mission but Christian cultural influence in the West gradually faded. Astonishingly, Christian influence in some areas of Europe has nearly died – areas that were formerly among the most devout Christian regions in the world.
Is it possible that the absence of serious spiritual theology in our churches and seminaries is partly responsible for the church’s self-defeating response to opposition? If generations of believers and seminary students in the 19th and 20th centuries were taught that becoming mature was primarily about right doctrine then how would they know that loving and blessing our opposition is at least as important? How would they know that the world “…will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another”? John 13:35 (NIV)
And is it possible that the neglect of orthopraxy has allowed other religions and philosophies to become more popular? Shouldn’t Christianity have the highest reputation for compassion among all religions and philosophies? For this to happen wouldn’t we have to place love and relationship at the center of our spirituality? And then we would make sure this is wholly integrated with our theology. We need to have solid doctrine, but the purpose of truth is to set us free – to love and be loved, i.e., to be in friendship with God and others.
The Western Church’s 20th century response of reasserting fundamentals and partly withdrawing from society also had the effect of diminishing our fellowship with one another. Becoming doctrine-centered moved many churches to neglect biblical fellowship, i.e. mutual openness and edification. Pastors became mostly teachers and defenders of doctrine instead of shepherds of souls. Thus fellowships become less relational and less of a community. There were exceptions but this was the overall trend. Christian psychologist Larry Crabb states:
“Passionless orthodoxy has spawned a generation of rigid Christian leaders who simply cannot relate to people.”
(Larry Crabb, Understanding People: Why We Long For Relationships (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1987, 2013), Introduction, 11th paragraph. Dr. Larry Crabb (Ph.D., University of Illinois) is distinguished scholar-in-residence at Colorado Christian University in Morrison, Colorado. He writes on counseling and spiritual formation.)
This blog is based on the chapter in the book Flourish titled: “Reuniting Spiritual Theology with Doctrinal Theology, or Why Church Can Be Boring or Hurtful”. The book Fourish : A Guide to Your Growth in God’s Community can be found on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Flourish-Growth-Community-Living-Gospel/dp/0986382302 .
