Covenant News

Are Churches Dumping Traditions to Become 'Relevant?'

CHICAGO, IL (February 10) - Scot McKnight sheds light on the emerging movement, Jim Hawkinson wonders about the danger of "being relevant," and best-selling author Anne Rice talks about her journey from an "Interview with a Vampire" to "Christ the Lord." These feature stories headline the latest edition of The Covenant Companion that arrives in homes this week.

In his in engaging and sometimes controversial study, North Park University Prof. McKnight argues that many critics of the emerging or "postmodern" movement are asking the wrong questions. Many critics worry about "epistemology" – that is, the way we understand "truth" – and fear that postmodern or emerging Christians have traded Christian truth for cultural relativism.

Instead, McKnight points out that emerging churches worry about "ecclesiology" - that is, how to "do church" faithfully in the 21st century. This movement, he writes, "contends that people come to faith because they see the gospel and experience the gospel and come to trust and love others who live that gospel out in their daily life."

Jim Hawkinson, a former Companion editor now serving as interim pastor of Salem Covenant Church in Minneapolis, says that churches are temped to dump their traditions in a harried effort to be "relevant."

"God knows we all need revitalization," Hawkinson writes, "and surely that requires each of us to stay open and pliable. But let's not simply cave in to the spirit of our age. Someone once said that to marry one's culture today is to be orphaned tomorrow."

What's needed instead, Hawkinson suggests, is a purposeful investment of time and energy "to move congregations by solid biblical preaching centered in the gospel, lively teaching, and historical interpretation, disciplined pastoral work, and clarion calls to lose our lives in sacramental living for Christ and the kingdom."

In an in-depth interview with Companion features editor Bob Smietana, Ann Rice tells the story of "coming home to Jesus" in the 1990s and how her rekindled faith changed her writing. She shares how her faith sustained her following the death of her husband and a difficult illness. "When you get a glimpse of how intricate and vast is the web of divine providence," Rice says, "where everything is woven into synch with everything else, it is a pretty awe-inspiring thing. Life becomes very simple."

Other highlights of the February issue include the second part of Dave Olson's series on church attendance patterns, Jay Phelan's "Markings," John Weborg on "compassion fatigue," and Krista Brumberg Stevens's reflection on the hopeful journey through Lent.

To join the Companion family of subscribers today, visit our subscription page at Subscribe Today. Subscription requests may also be submitted by email at subscriptions@covchurch.org or by calling 773-907-3310.

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