Christianity Today‘s February 2008 cover story “The Future Lies in the Past” charts the increasing evangelical adoption of ancient Christian traditions and rituals in forming current spirituality. Chris Armstrong describes evangelicalism’s surge into the past, from “ancient-future” leader Bob Webber’s acclamation of the Great Tradition to the identity crisis of younger evangelicals today.
It’s true that this “blast from the past” is taking place in evangelical life, perhaps in more ways than Webber would have anticipated. Armstrong’s article points out the return to liturgy and tradition, but he leaves out the variety of ways that evangelicals are connecting with the past. The Ancient-Future side might actually be one of the less-influential corners of a movement spreading throughout evangelicalism from all directions.
1. Reformed Resurgence
Take the Reformed resurgence among young adults. In my own denomination, young Baptists are intrigued by the Calvinist roots of our Southern Baptist Convention. Some of the youngest Baptist leaders can quote from the earliest Southern Baptists better than their fathers and pastors. The desire for rootedness, for deep connection with the past has led many to the Puritans, whose books continue to be printed by Banner of Truth and Crossway.
2. Emerging Church
The Emerging Church disparages the rootlessness of contemporary evangelicalism and the pragmatism of the Seeker movement. The Emerging Church merges ancient rituals with current expression, and this strange marriage takes place in a variety of ways. Some Emerging churches have rediscovered prayer rooms, incense, candles, icons, and labyrinths.
3. Spiritual Disciplines Movement
Richard Foster’s influential books on spiritual disciplines deserve a place in the Ancient-Future spectrum. Foster has long advocated a deeper embrace of the devotional heritage of the past, even if the classics take us back before the Reformation. Those who have followed Foster’s lead have taken up ancient Christian disciplines – fasting, contemplative prayer, etc.
4. The Organic/House Church Movement
Though I have argued that the most recent expression of this movement (Barna and Viola’s Pagan Christianity?) actually hates church history, I do see a common impulse between this group and the Ancient-Future movement. Both movements are about looking back in order to look forward. Of course, Barna desires a return to the pristine quality of the earliest church, which I believe never existed. But the desire for rootedness is present here in this odd house-church manifestation as well.
5. The New Monastics
Some might equate this movement with the Emerging Church, but it has its own distinct features. The Emerging Church is about contextualization, while the New Monastics tend to focus on the building of faith-communities and opportunities for spiritual retreat and reflection. Monastic prayer, fasting, giving to the poor, etc. are making a comeback among young evangelicals.
6. People Like Me
I can’t be pigeon-holed into any one of the above categories.
While I have a deep appreciation for Robert Webber, the worship of the church where I serve could hardly be considered “Ancient-Future.”
Theologically, I lean Reformed and I love Church History but I am not a five-point Calvinist and sometimes tire of the seemingly endless introspection of the Puritans.
I am not part of the Emerging Church, though I believe the movement has raised some good questions that we as evangelicals need to do business with.
I regularly practice certain spiritual disciplines and have no qualms about following the Church Calendar, observing Lent, and praying ancient prayers by candlelight.
I am not a Monastic, although a good spiritual retreat is a balm to my soul.
I love high-church liturgy, although I rarely get to experience it.
I hunger for more frequent observance of the Lord’s Supper.
I yearn to find roots in the Church, roots beyond contemporary evangelicalism.
I suspect that there are many people like me, whose mouths water when hearing about liturgy, tradition, stability, and ancient rituals, but who often feel deprived of such aspects of Christianity due to the current trajectory of evangelical churches.
I am glad to see the evangelical movement looking backwards for a change. It is deeply humbling to see the vastness of the Christian tradition and our speckled and shining history and then to discover we are part of something bigger than ourselves – bigger than our denominational distinctives, bigger than our petty problems, bigger than our foolish fightings. We belong to the Church that for two thousand years has witnessed to the world that Jesus is Lord.
written by Trevin Wax. copyright © 2008 Kingdom People Blog.
Related Articles:
Book Review: Ancient-Future Faith
My Interview with Robert Webber
Baptists and the Lord’s Supper
