by Peter Davison
Q: Why can't the church be more up-to-date? If we were, wouldn't that bring in more people?
A: This is a common lament, as well as an easy excuse for people who have no interest in a faith commitment. There is, of course, a constant tension between valuing tradition and seeking to make Christianity more accessible to our post-modern age. President Barack Obama, struggling to save a global economy from the ravages of unfettered self-interest and greed, has called for a return to traditional values, while we might do well to recall the words of William R. Inge, the early 20th century Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral in London, England, who wrote that "He who marries the spirit of the age will soon become a widower." The question is this: Are there certain eternal truths and values, and how do we preserve and make them known in a world of constant change?
This is a serious question, for we are faced with changes so exponential, profound and rapid that it is difficult for us to keep pace with them. It has been said that the first twenty-five years of this century will create more change than the whole of the 20th century, which itself produced more change than the whole of human history before it. It has been predicted that by the mid-21st century biology and technology will converge, profoundly altering our understanding of what it is to be human, and creating a world where it will be difficult to distinguish “virtual reality” from “the real thing.” Driving this change are three forces combining into what is known as “the singularity.” These are genetics, nanotechnology (miniaturization), and robotics. Some scientists have urged that we put a stop to technologies that appear to be, like the Sorcerer’s Apprentice, already beyond our control. Others have argued that this would only leave them in the hands of the unscrupulous. We have a responsibility to direct them towards the greatest possible good and the least possible harm. In the end, we are faced with two choices: to live by faith rather than fear, and to take responsibility for both present and future, rather than surrender our freedom to others.
Here the great biblical themes remain profoundly relevant. First, to be human (made in the divine image and likeness) is to cooperate with God in the ongoing work of creation. Secondly, the Exodus story reminds us how easily we choose slavery over freedom, wishing to go back to old certainties and unwilling to follow God who calls us into an unknown future. Thirdly, the Christian narrative calls us out of selfish and fearful isolation into life together in community — a community that is at least a foretaste of God’s rule, in which dignity, justice and peace prevail. This is quite different from following the latest fads, which soon give way to other novelties.
A serious error is to confuse tradition with our own limited experience. Tradition is not something written in stone (or even on the pages of the Book of Common Prayer). My criticism of self-styled traditionalists is that they are usually not conservative enough — for tradition is infinitely long and varied, an ongoing process of building on the past without being enslaved by it. By the same token, many self-styled liberals or progressives believe they have a licence to discard the past. Much of what is presented as "new" is in fact a repetition of old discredited theories.
My own hope for the church is that it will be a community of people committed to truth-seeking, mutually respectful conversation, and a spirit of reverence, gratitude, compassion and genuine celebration. There are plenty of people out there looking for that kind of community.
