3 minute read
The term “ecclesiology” refers to the theological study of the Church. It’s a multifaceted field that explores the origins of Christianity, the relationship between Jesus and the Church, its role in the process of salvation, the Church’s means of spiritual formation, the beliefs and practices around ordination, the nature and culture of its institutional structures, how discipline is exercised, and so forth. There’s also a useful distinction made between a high ecclesiology vs. a low ecclesiology, which means holding the Church in high esteem and valuing its importance or vice versa.1
High or low? Ya know, I feel deeply conflicted. God help me, but I long to be optimistic about the Church. I do. In my heart of hearts, I yearn to hold to a high ecclesiology. I want to a) believe in the Body of Christ’s potential as the Spirit’s conduit to tangibly heal the world and b) trust that the Bride of Christ will help people far more than she harms. However, there’s this other part of me that ain’t havin’ it. It’s the part of me that bemoans, ‘A “high ecclesiology”? Are you kiddin’ me right now? *pssht* Is this some Stockholm syndrome shit or what? Knock it off.’ Again, conflicted.
The 2015 Pixar film, Inside Out, presents us with a young protagonist named Riley. Within her mind are the five characters who are each a basic emotion: Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust, and Anger.2 In a similar kind of way, I’ve got these different inner-characters in my head who hash things out. Two of ’em are Reason and Protection. Reason is this Oxford nerd who’s civil, measured, and studious. He sounds like N.T. Wright. Protection is this foul-mouthed bouncer from Southie. He says everything in this thick Boston accent with an ever-present intensity tinged with anger.3
These days Reason is coming to affirm a quite sensible third-way alternative. He rejects high vs. low ecclesiology as yet another false dichotomy and is instead proposing a theological framework of high Christology, low anthropology, and middle ecclesiology.4 All that makes sense, right? Well, sure, BUT Protection ain’t havin’ it. “With all due disrespect, fock that shit.” He’s tired of churches dickin’ around and messin’ over people’s goddamn lives. His problem ain’t Jesus. His problem is these religious asshats who make promises they have no intention of fulfilling.5
The original beatniks utilized a stream-of-consciousness writing style that would be fascinating to consider from an Internal Family Systems psychological perspective. Critics described the Beat Generation as inconsistent and double-minded. Perhaps they were reflecting the inward human tensions and conflicts that always exist within different parts of our consciousness, though? As for an ecclesiology in beatnik Christianity, I’m working toward an integration between Reason and Protection but have got a strong Intuition it will further distance me from Christian culture.6
Author
I think of high ecclesiology vs. low ecclesiology as being not so much about particular doctrines, but about a vibe. Are you giving off a devoted, “Yay, church!” energy or an uninspired, “Meh, church” energy? Personally, I give off a mutt vibe. Yes, I’m a historically-inclined Anglican priest YET I’ve got some significant Anabaptist countercultural tendencies surrounding Church culture. Yes, I’ve poured my life into serving the world through the Church YET I’ve been shafted by the Church more times than I can count. The best summation I’ve got is to say I’m jaded but not cynical.↩
The film is a nearly perfect representation of Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy.↩
Think of Matt Damon’s and Ben Affleck’s characters in Good Will Hunting. Also, Protection is street-smart. His mantra is, “Do no harm. Take no shit.” Far from being unhinged, he sees the forest for the trees and refuses to put up with the recurrent patterns of neglect and abuse that Reason always tries to condone and justify in the interest of being patient and charitable.↩
It also contains an above average view of Scripture and a below average view of outward piety.↩
Reason just thought, ‘Touché.’↩
Intuition is another one of the guys in my head, by the way. There’s also Creativity, who’s a curious hippie from San Francisco, and…↩
