Pub Theology 5/7/24 — Many paths, one destination?

Pete Trumbore • May 6, 2024

“If God truly loves the world, why wouldn’t God create as many paths as there are people?” That’s the question posed by the Rev. Dr. Eric Elnes, a biblical scholar and pastor in the United Church of Christ.

Elnes describes himself as a Christian Pluralist. In many ways this approach to the Christian faith is very different than the idea of a faith based on certainty that we discussed last week. Fellow UCC pastor Roger Adams, in making a case for Christian Pluralism , contrasts it with the kind of exclusivist perspective that last week’s topic referenced, while acknowledging the potential attractiveness of such a faith system.

“Exclusivists are certain that their religion is the one true faith and the only way to salvation.  By its nature, exclusivism is socially divisive, as it regards people with different beliefs as wrong—at best mistaken or confused, at worst sinful or evil.  Such absolute certainty about beliefs is fragile.  It can be shattered by doubts and disagreements, which therefore must be suppressed.  Nevertheless, an exclusivist faith community can be very attractive, offering members clarity in the face of life’s complexities, confirmation of one’s social acceptability, and assurance of one’s righteous superiority over outsiders.”

Christian Pluralism, Adams continues, “acknowledges limits and fallibility, and thus accepts that others’ religions may also be true.  Note the ‘may’ in that sentence.”

Adams clarifies that this perspective does not claim that all religions are equally true, or that all faiths are the same beneath the surface. Rather, it holds that other religions may contain some truth, just as we believe our own does. “Many peoples in many times and places have struggled to understand existence and have sensed the presence of the Divine.  Perhaps we could learn from their insights.  Surely, we should not be so arrogant as to think that God has revealed Godself only to one group at one unique time and place.”

Elnes, however, argues that these separate paths are ultimately leading toward the same destination: “Christian pluralism understands that the world’s perennial faiths are like paths up a mountain. While the paths are very different lower on the mountain, they become increasingly close as they approach their highest level of actualization.” Blogger Glenn Harrell makes a similar point, arguing “there are indeed many paths to God and many of these paths take the traveler considerable distances from the destination. Some people will travel their lifetime and yet never arrive before their eventual death and departure from this earth.”

In our discussion this week we’re going to talk about this idea of Christian Pluralism and how we feel about the notion of there being many paths to God. Do you agree with this perspective? What do you see as the strengths and weaknesses of this way of thinking? What objections might we raise to this notion of Christian Pluralism? After all, didn’t Jesus himself say, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6)?

Join us for the conversation Tuesday evening, May 7, beginning at 7pm at Casa Real in downtown Oxford.

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This Sunday, all are welcome to join us for a morning of worship and fellowship. Whether you are with us in the sanctuary or joining from afar, your presence strengthens our community. Our services are at 8:30 & 10:00 a.m. We warmly welcome those who cannot attend in person to join us via our live stream for the 10:00 a.m. service. 
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This Sunday, all are welcome to join us for a morning of worship and fellowship. Whether you are with us in the sanctuary or joining from afar, your presence strengthens our community. Our services are at 8:30 & 10:00 a.m. We warmly welcome those who cannot attend in person to join us via our live stream for the 10:00 a.m. service. 
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This Sunday, all are welcome to join us for a morning of worship and fellowship. Whether you are with us in the sanctuary or joining from afar, your presence strengthens our community. Our services are at 8:30 & 10:00 a.m. We warmly welcome those who cannot attend in person to join us via our live stream for the 10:00 a.m. service. 
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I imagine we're all familiar with the slogan WWJD, or, What Would Jesus Do. In fact, it's so familiar that it's turned into a cliched bit of pop culture replicated on wristbands, inspirational posters, bumperstickers, and so on. But have you heard of WWJI, What (or Who) Would Jesus Imitate? OK, true confessions time, I made that one up. But stick with me for a minute. I got to thinking about this after reading an article at the website Mockingbird titled "Are you a Follower or a Fan: Imitation vs. Participation." The piece starts off by acknowledging the very real challenges of being modern people trying to do as Jesus did. The author writes: "A few Sundays ago, I listened to a homily that drew a sharp distinction between being a mere fan of Jesus and being a true follower. The preacher’s message was clear: admiration is not enough; commitment is required. And yet, as I sat there, I couldn’t help but think that this framing, while stirring, glossed over the profound complexities of discipleship. After all, what does it truly mean to follow a first-century prophet who renounced self-protection, rejected wealth, and issued radical moral demands? It’s one thing to nod along in agreement; it’s quite another to live as he did. After the service, I mentioned to a fellow congregant that I don’t consider myself a follower of Jesus — just a fan. And only on my better days." A little further on, the author raises what is a profound and I think fundamental question about the nature of Christianity and what it means to be a Christian. "Is Christianity about imitating Jesus or participating in Jesus? Is it primarily following a moral example or being swept up into an unfolding mystery?" As the author notes, this is about the fundamental tension of Christian life. The idea of imitation is that Christian life is about emulating Jesus, replicating his actions, embodying his virtues, and modeling our behaviors after his. Hence the WWJD paradigm. But there's a problem there. This mindset reduces "Christianity to a moral project focused on individual actions and ethical conduct. While imitation is undeniably valuable, when it becomes the core of the Christian journey, it risks turning faith into little more than a moralistic exercise — a set of rules to follow rather than a living, transformative experience." This approach is also, at its core, a specifically individual exercise. In short, how can I be like Jesus? Participation, the author writes, is a radically different approach that reframes the Christian experience. "It’s not about striving to mimic Christ’s life, but about engaging in the ongoing mystery of his presence in the world. The believer isn’t just a disciple learning to imitate an ancient figure but a participant in a larger, living story — a story that transcends time and encompasses both the individual and the collective." While imitation offers a clear moral framework, it risks reducing our faith to a checklist of behaviors. Do these things (what Jesus would do), replicate these actions, and we're set. Participation, the author writes, "pulls believers into something dynamic and ongoing. It’s not about asking 'What would Jesus do?' but 'What is Jesus doing right now?' It’s about recognizing that faith is not just a story to be retold, but a mystery to be lived and actively engaged with in the present." So where are you in this mix of imitation vs. participation? How different are the two? Does participation mean we discard imitation? Or does participation give meaning to imitation. If imitation is about me, myself, and I, who is participation about? Are you a fan or a follower? We will wrestle with these questions in our discussion this week. Join us for the conversation tomorrow evening, Tuesday, April 22, starting at 7pm at Casa Real in downtown Oxford.
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