The growing contempt between low church and high church traditions highlights a critical need for respectful dialogue to enhance unity among believers.
Surface-level critiques of low church practices often overlook their rich theological foundations, suggesting the importance of deeper understanding and inquiry into various traditions.
Deep dives
Growing Tensions Between Church Traditions
There is an increasing trend of contempt directed towards low church traditions, such as Baptists and non-denominational Christians, particularly from high church expressions like Anglicanism and Lutheranism. This attitude often extends beyond mere disagreement, morphing into a disdainful perception of those practicing low church evangelicalism as unsophisticated or ignorant. Conversely, proponents of low church traditions also harbor contempt for high church practices, viewing them as hypocritical and overly reliant on formal rituals. This reciprocal disdain undermines the unity of the body of Christ, emphasizing the need for respectful discourse rather than contemptuous criticism.
Self-Righteousness and Contempt
Self-righteousness can manifest in the critique of different church traditions, leading individuals to look down on others based solely on their denominational affiliation. When Christians express contempt for fellow believers, this often indicates a deeper issue of self-righteousness tied to their own traditions. The parable of the Pharisee in Luke serves as a reminder that contempt for others reflects a flawed understanding of gospel principles. Embracing humility and seeking to understand one another can help mitigate contempt and foster a healthier dialogue about faith.
Unfair Criticisms of Low Church Traditions
Criticism of low church traditions often arises from surface-level observations that fail to account for the richer theological understandings within these communities. A common mistake is to assess a tradition based on anecdotal experiences rather than its official doctrines and teachings, leading to prejudiced views. For instance, misconceptions about Baptists often stem from a narrow focus on contemporary practices instead of a broader historical context, such as their original theological stance on sacraments. A deeper inquiry into these traditions reveals a more nuanced understanding and the potential for both low and high church communities to learn from each other's strengths.
Gavin Ortlund discusses a growing tension between low church and high church expressions of Protestantism, especially the trend to be more critical of Baptist, non-denominational, and evangelical churches. Truth Unites (https://truthunites.org) exists to promote gospel assurance through theological depth. Gavin Ortlund (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is President of Truth Unites, Visiting Professor of Historical Theology at Phoenix Seminary, and Theologian-in-Residence at Immanuel Nashville.SUPPORT:Tax Deductible Support: https://truthunites.org/donate/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/truthunitesFOLLOW:Website: https://truthunites.org/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truth.unites/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gavinortlundFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/TruthUnitesPage/
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
