Volume 7, Issue 8, June 1998

THE CHANGING FACE OF CHRISTIANITY

Christianity exists in a world that is radically new. Revolutionary change is the changeless fact confronting all human life and every institution. Christianity must be reborn else it will die as it faces new knowledge, new mores, and the demand for spiritual ministry.

At the present many Christians are retreating, retrenching their organization, the church, into institutional busyness. A ministry aiming at homogenized individualism, piety, or emotional security completes the escapism.

The pioneers of the new Christianity remain loyal to the incarnation, the knowledge that God as love and healer is exemplified in the narratives of Jesus and the teachings of the New Testament. The realm of God is within us and among us. Authentic Christianity is not the result of religious salespersonship or programing. It is a dynamism, a quality of inner being, and a style of existence in the world. Authentic Christian life is "strength and power...in...inner being." (Ephesians 3:16).

The changing face of Christianity may be exemplified in part by the function today of prison chaplains. Though locked away, pretty much out of sight, and even more out of mind, they illustrate the ministry of the future.

Able ministers in their own particular faith, through their specialized training and out of necessity they are leaders in multifaith ministries of pastoral and religious care. In the captive community of the prison and jail the chaplain serves all people of all faiths, even those without a faith connection.

Proficient in their own faith messages and rituals today's chaplain utilizes the services of other ministers, priests, rabbis, elders, imans, and volunteers. This is done by developing a network of associations with the religious leaders and workers available outside the prison in the surrounding communities.

As well, prison chaplains arrange and supervise volunteer religious programmes, utilizing the faith groups available and interested in serving the prisoners spiritual needs.

These contacts with the world outside the prison confines are valuable in helping the prisoners to make the transition from captivity to normal life in the community again.

The church in the future may well be more multifaith in character. The growing generation has less interest in doctrines, dogmas, even membership in a particular faith group, and favour relationships that foster spiritual and religious development. They are generally disinterested in organized religion and seek niches of interest and need. They are used to networking and learn and participate widely in the networks available to them.

Christianity must break out of the isolation of congregationalism with segregated community lines of class, culture, income, ethnic group, and become more ecumenical, sharing with the rest of the world their witness of the works of God, and the "local" church be understood in such a way that it refers to all the people of God in their locality in the full sense.

A world in transition, a new listening to that world, a new message to meet its needs, these form the evangelistic situation of today. Cast off the old and declare nothing you do not mean. We must pour new wine into new wineskins.

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"Religion NOW" is published in limited edition by the Rev. Ross E. Readhead, B.A., B.D., Certificate of Corrections, McMaster University, in the interest of furthering knowledge and participation in religion. Dialogue is invited and welcomed.