Unconverted Ministry

A recent post by Al Mohler raised an important issue. It traced an article about unconverted pastors and pointed to this comment in the article as a key.

"The ambiguity about who is a believer and who is an unbeliever follows inexorably from the pluralism that has been assiduously fostered by many religious leaders for a century and more: God is many different things to different people, and since we can't know if one of these conceptions is the right one, we should honor them all. This counsel of tolerance creates a gentle fog that shrouds the question of belief in God in so much indeterminacy that if asked whether they believed in God, many people could sincerely say that they don't know what they are being asked." - Daniel C. Dennett and Linda LaScola, Center for Cognitive Studies at Tufts University (emphasis added)

Since this was written by two atheists it could be easy to dismiss their comments as unworthy of consideration. Nevertheless there is a truth involved in the article and in the comment quoted above. Some Church leaders have been guilty of teaching in accordance with the passage emphasized above, it is true. But that is certainly not the idea intended by those who argued for a disestablished Church in the early days in the USA. In fact it would not be true to assume that the early fathers of the nation believed in pluralism at all. They saw themselves as setting up (as can be seen by the Declaration of Independence) a Christian State where no one denomination was to be given State support.

The problem with such a view is that the benefit of State encouragement to correct errors in the Church and vice versa has been largely attenuated. Though still possible, it is frowned upon as interference in the free exercise of our liberties if either institution dares to speak out against abuses in the other. Now, I am not arguing for a return to an established Church. It is wise, however, to remember that though no Church was established in the USA there was an established religion - Christianity.

While that means no one Church's teaching is to be accepted as completely correct there are certain basic tenets which hold true over all the Christian Churches. So it is patently untrue to say "God is many different things to different people" as if that includes denying he even exists. Christianity as it was accepted by the fathers was clear about the doctrine of God. He is as described in the Apostle's Creed. Most Christians would also accept the Nicene Creed and the declaration of the Council of Chalcedon on the nature of Christ.

The unconverted ministry mentioned in Al Mohler's article have no right to claim ambiguity as a reason for remaining in the role they have chosen. The honorable thing to do would be to acknowledge their unbelief and leave. In this day they would still be allowed to set up their own worshiping community (possibly even made up of their former parishioners) and even to call it a Church. In fairness, however, they should stop using the name Christian to describe their beliefs. That's more than a courtesy, that's ceasing to use the name of God in vain and so is marginally safer when it comes to the Final Judgment, even though it will not change the verdict.