The Tension

There has been a tension within the churches over history as they swing between Unity and Purity. The reformation and consequent denominations (i.e. Anabaptists) are examples of a move to purity. From what I've seen we are currently swinging in the side of unity. Leading protestants and catholics are looking at finding unity between the two as well as lots of other inter-faith talk that's going on. There seems to be more free churches (those that call themselves non-denominational) who, at least theologically, state that they are part of the same big family - church. Most young people I meet are happy going to any denomination.

More recently I have been thinking about a tension between Grace and Holiness. I'm not exactly sure where the churches currently swing on this; perhaps they are at the bottom of the pendulum swinging left to grace? An example of a church swinging the way of holiness would be a church who see's themself as seperate from the world. Church membership requires various hurdles and hoops, and there is a clear definition of who is saved and who isn't - usually done through confessions etc. But then there seems to be this post-modern push of the church towards grace. Perhaps the Emerging Church represents an aspect of this as they focus on reaching culture in whatever form that may be required. The belief that there is no set of proper ways, but that God will accept all types of worship, theologies, beliefs and people. However, this is still something I'm workin out.