"15 For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? 17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God. (2 Corinthians 2:15-17)"
Groan. The Christchurch Press this Easter weekend in its magazine has John Spong on the front cover, and a feature interview promoting his theology in general and his new book, Eternal Life: A New Vision, in particular. The editorial introduction (page 2) is weird, including this odd statement, "And within the broad umbrella of Christianity, the significance of Christ's death and Resurrection is less than absolute." Hmm. I think he might be trying to say, 'within the broad umbrella of Christianity the meaning of Christ's death and Resurrection varies'. Actually the journalistic standards in general in respect of this article are, well, let me diplomatically reserve praise for another occasion. Two photos are used, one of which was taken in front of Nelson Cathedral circa 2003, and the other, Spong inside Christchurch Cathedral, is likely from the same visit. In both photos Spong wears his episcopal purple shirt. Note to TEC readers: long into his retirement Anglicans down under continue to feel the blight of this bishop whom TEC refuses to depose.
As a matter of fact I have a copy of Spong's latest book. I have begun to read it but am unlikely to finish it. It is vintage Spong. Read that literally. It is all about him. Fine for the fans. But there is only so much 'and my next experience of death was when' a non-fan can take!
Spong's theology is indeed his very own theology. It is something he has discovered and fervently believes to be true. Good for him. But if it is true then the god discovered by Spong has played a cosmic joke on Christians for nearly 2000 years (and longer on Jews), permitting them to live with the happy delusion of a theistic God. Perhaps less surprising is that Jesus Christ in Spong's reprise of him is very like Spong. And, by happy coincidence, nearly everything Spong has discovered about his god and eternal life was also known by Jesus, though tragically misunderstood by even his closest disciples.
The other thing I notice about Spong's message is that while it is very popular with the secular media, especially at Have a Go At Christianity Time (Christmas and Easter in NZ), it has not significantly grown one church congregation here in NZ, no youth groups have been fostered by it, and no church plants in new housing areas have been established with the gospel according to Spong.
Yet the Christchurch Press loves him and features him in bold technicolour this weekend.
Meanwhile, in the churches in the circulation area of the Press, tens of thousands will gather to worship the risen Jesus according to the Gospel. This gospel recounted through Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Paul is the fragrance of life to those who believe in Jesus Christ, Son of the living God. May our praises to God this day be the aroma of Christ!
13 comments:
Back in 1998 an orthodox Episcopal bishop ('Episcopal bishop' - how pleonastic that sounds) told me that the revisionists in Tec liked Spong because he was a stalking horse for them - he took the flak for all his grandstanding, sophomoric heresies, while they quietly got on with the business of changing church doctrine and teaching on sexuality. 'Look at Jack Spong', they would say, 'we're not like him.' Why, they were almost orthodox in comparison (or so they seemed). Another time I heard Doug Theuner, Gene Robinson's predecessor and champion, complain about Richard Holloway's outspokenness (when the then-Primate of the Sctottish Episcopal Church said that men couldn't help being promiscuous, it was in their genes). 'He's a lot smarter than Spong but he makes us look bad speaking this way.'
Well, Holloway is openly an atheist now, drawing a pension from all those churchgoers who supported him throughout his working life. These are the mature fruits of theological liberalism - as J. H. Newman so presciently saw in the 19th century.
Outis
Back in 1998 an orthodox Episcopal bishop ('Episcopal bishop' - how pleonastic that sounds) told me that the revisionists in Tec liked Spong because he was a stalking horse for them - he took the flak for all his grandstanding, sophomoric heresies, while they quietly got on with the business of changing church doctrine and teaching on sexuality. 'Look at Jack Spong', they would say, 'we're not like him.' Why, they were almost orthodox in comparison (or so they seemed). Another time I heard Doug Theuner, Gene Robinson's predecessor and champion, complain about Richard Holloway's outspokenness (when the then-Primate of the Sctottish Episcopal Church said that men couldn't help being promiscuous, it was in their genes). 'He's a lot smarter than Spong but he makes us look bad speaking this way.'
Well, Holloway is openly an atheist now, drawing a pension from all those churchgoers who supported him throughout his working life. These are the mature fruits of theological liberalism - as J. H. Newman so presciently saw in the 19th century.
Outis
Fr. Carrell, set your own house in order before you start complaining about episcopal issues in TEC. Watch the media to see how ecclesiastical scandals in the end will out.
As to Outis, he needs to clarify that Holloway is receiving his pension from money he saved during active ministry. Or is he suggesting the Scottish Episcopal Church finances retired clergy from current income?
As to Spong - other than your mentioning them on your blog, what are you concretely doing about those who teach similarly in NZ. Is stating they are not significantly growing enough?
Hi Anonymous @10.21
Fair enough. When I find clergy here with views similar to Spong's I shall attempt to do something concrete about it.
Also, when TEC finds a way to treat +Bob Duncan etc as bishops in good standing with TEC then I shall desist in calls for Spong to be deposed.
I am equally concerned to find the special lift-out magazine in this weekend's "Dominion Post" also features this person, with a full front cover photo of him in his purple shirt and clerical collar - and a Christian cross. Inside is the 3-page cover story, two pages of text outlining his views.
I groan as well. If this man had any integrity at all, he would surely resign. His comments on orthodox Christianity are a straw man... a "God in the sky" indeed!
How did he come to be speaking in Christ Church Cathedral anyway? There was no date given for when that took place, but why is a heretic invited to share his views in a Christian church?
Hi Judah
I think both newspapers are own by the same company and thus it is the same feature article using the same out-dated photos.
Two notes: (1) being in Nelson at the time the photo outside its cathedral was taken I can assure you that no meeting was held in that cathedral (there was a meeting in another church of another denomination - I was there) but Spong, if nothing else, is a great publicist, so took the opportunity to be photographed outside the cathedral! (2) the second photo is in Christchurch cathedral and his being hosted there (I think, some 7 years ago) will reflect a view at the time that, as a bishop in good standing (i.e. with his own church, TEC), he was not to be denied an Anglican venue.
I would be intrigued to learn whether an invitation would be forthcoming these days if Spong visited: I suspect the trajectory of his theology is such that it would not now be forthcoming.
Anon@10:21 - I don't dispute Holloway's legal right to his pension. (Exactly who's funding it now, I don't know. But in any case, the SEC declined catastrophically under Holloway.)It's his hypocrisy I deplore. He had ceased to believe in the Creeds in any meaningful sense long before he retired - & ditto for Spong.
But I agree with you in this (& Peter is too kind or diplomatic to proffer an opinion): Glyn Cardy's attaqchment to historic, trinitarian, incarnationist orthodox Anglicanism is so thin, he should leave and form his own unitarian church or ethical society, maybe with Richard Randerson.
Outis
Thanks for that info, Peter, and the reassurance that he would be unlikely to be invited by anyone (Anglican) Down Here as well.
My favourite Spong quote is from 'Why the Church must change or die', where (for once) I AGREE with him (but not his theological rationale):
'[Another] symbol of the Church’s shift away from theism is seen in that this loss of priestly power is now affecting the haberdashery worn by the ordained, especially the vestments worn by the hierarchy… The bishop’s mitre is indeed a thinly disguised crown. The bishop’s cope, which accompanies the mitre, is an ecclesiastical version of the king’s royal cape. The bishop’s ring is reminiscent of the royal signet ring with which the king sealed his official documents. The bishop’s crosier (pastoral staff) is a replica of the king’s royal staff. The bishop’s chair, like the king’s chair, is called “the throne,” and people kneel at the feet of the bishop seated on his throne, when they are confirmed. Finally, the bishop’s house is called “the palace”… One wonders who bishops are fooling. Today… the opinions of bishops on most subjects are widely ignored. Yet our costumes seek to disguise the fact that we are engaged in a massively irrelevant charade of enormous pretension… Royal vestments will surely be discarded if a new church capable of living beyond the exile is to be born' - end quote (181-182).
The irony is Bishop Spong is rarely seen at a public event other than in his Episcopal garb, consistently sporting the royal purple reserved for prelates of the Church.
No less ironic is that the fact that he argues for lay presidency of communion in the same book, and wonders who will have the courage to bring about such reform...
Indeed, Tim, one can agree with him that 'the Church must change or die'. But the changes he proposes are not giving life; at least, not in any obvious way I am aware of.
Lest it be misunderstood, my comment above is firmly with tongue in cheek. Spong's vision for a reformed church is as superficial as they come, and if measured by his track record as bishop, can hardly be held forth as an advertisement for growth.
I do find it curious, however, to note the extent to which he critiques bishops for their love of office, title and episcopal persona, while continuing to play on his image as a bishop of the Church.
Understood - on all counts!
Tim, it's a fairly dependabale rule that the more liberal (i.e. thinner) a theology, the more the proponents thereof hold to titles, garb and liturgy, but usually of a faux-catholic type. People like Spong deny the substance of catholic theology but wrap themselves in the historical appurtenances of catholicism. Isn't that the definition of a dishonest hypocrite?
It's like declaring a currency worthless but to go around still trying ot spend it.
Outis
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