Every age, every generation has its built-in assumptions. There are hundreds of hidden assumptions, things we take for granted that may or may not be true. Historically, the vast majority of these things aren’t true. But we’re locked into certain precepts without even knowing it.
That’s a paradigm. This is difficult to change because your paradigm is so intrinsic to your mental process that you are hardly aware of its existence.
As we move further into the 21st century, let me suggest it is time to understand and change the paradigm of the church and of every Christian.
“Forward movement is not helpful if what is needed is a change of direction.” ― David Fleming
If we are to move out of being embedded in past historical eras then we must be open to different forms of thinking. To keep this section to a minimum, I have chosen to simplify an extract from the book ‘Ancient Future Faith’ by Robert Webber.
First: Openness to different forms of thinking asks us to understand the past contextually. Each era of Christian history is to be studied in its unique culture. Since its beginning, the Christian faith has been filtered through a variety of cultures. It may be said broadly that the story of Christianity moves from a focus on mystery in the Common Era (the first few centuries), to institution in the Medieval Era, to separation in the Reformation Era, to reason in the Modern Era, and now, in the Postmodern Era, back to mystery.
Second: Openness to different forms of thinking allows us to have a deep appreciation for the past. As Protestants we usually ground our understanding of the faith in one of the post 16th century movements. We often freeze that particular moment in time, make it the standard expression of faith, and then judge all other movements or periods of time by that standard. The study of other periods of history should be looked at as a dialogue and an encounter with other expressions of faith that will inform and strengthen understanding in our era.
Third: Openness to different forms of thinking also recognises that the major models of the past continue into the present world. For example, Christianity adapted in the Greek world remains with us in Eastern Orthodoxy; Christianity formulated in the medieval world remains with us in Roman Catholicism. Many Reformation models are still with us – Lutheran, Anglican, Reformed, and Anabaptist. And, of course, there are those expressions of faith that have been formed by the culture of Modernity – liberalism, fundamentalism and evangelicalism for example. Through the study of different forms of thinking we are able to understand that the different expressions of faith are attempts, within a particular cultural moment and geographical place, to express the faith in a fresh way.
Fourth: Openness to different forms of thinking affirms the unity and diversity of the Christian faith and looks for the framework of faith that is common. Unity is based on what is passed down through the ages and believed by the Christian Church worldwide, whereas diversity is a particular understanding of the faith that reflects the specific cultural context in which it was expressed. So while we are all Christians, some of us are Roman Catholic Christians, Eastern Orthodox Christians, Reformation Christians, twentieth-century evangelical Christians or some other form of modern or postmodern Christians.
Fifth: Openness to different forms of thinking also provides us with an intelligent way to deal with times of transition.For example, some of the practices of the Christian Church imbedded in the Modern culture, with its belief in a mechanistic/organised world, are eroding. In this swirl of change, many are seeking to honestly incarnate the historic faith in the emerging 21st century culture. This goal will not be accomplished by abandoning the past, but by understanding the trans-cultural framework of faith that has been blessed by every period of church history. You may be surprised to discover that some of your Christian practices can be traced to earlier periods in the history of the church.
I trust that as you move further into the 21st century, you will discover, along with me, that we easily emphasise non-essential beliefs and practices while allowing the core beliefs and practices of our Christian forebears to slide into the background.
The illiterate of the 21st century will not be the individual who cannot read, but the one who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.
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