When non-natives discover your native theology

Tissot, The Chastisement of Uzzah

Why do so many of my favorite teachers of grace come from outside my denomination, you know, the denomination that gave us sola gratia? I think many of them learned it as a second language. Manning, Nouwen, and Cantalamessa, Capon and Keller, Peterson and Brown, and all the hosts of the Mockingcast. I don't mean to say that Anglican/Episcopalians, Catholics, and Presbyterians didn't learn grace from their mother churches. I just think their core vocabulary consisted of other great words. I am not trying to be uncharitable or to build a straw man. 

When these others talk about grace, they speak like it is the most refreshing news they've ever heard. The gospel surprised them. When Lutherans talk about the gospel, it often sounds more like a concept or a doctrine. We talk about the gospel the way a butcher talks about blood, or a mortician talks about death. Familiarity. Are we are all too close to our own native theologies? Uzzah was so familiar with the Ark of God's Presence, he thought it needed his help (1 Chronicles 13.9). When we live so close to something, even the Presence, we risk somehow losing awe--losing the surprise. Luther was a penance-focused monk before he was the OG Evangelical. Paul was a Pharisee of Pharisees before he was surprised by grace. 

• It is hilarious when a liturgical Lutheran experiences a personal pentecost. When Pentecostals have the same experience, it is expected.
• It is surprising when a biblical non-denominational believer longs for regular reception of the eucharist. When a sacramental believer does, they are living out their native theology.
• It is refreshing when a contemplative intercessor is activated in evangelism or just action. When an evangelical or progressive believer does, they are just being themselves. 

Many more examples could be added, but my main point is that God is planning that "we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." Ephesians 4.13. Paul uses an important word: until. "Until we all attain to the unity of faith..." 

It has been popular to use the concept of streams. I'm in the sacramental and Spirit-filled stream. He is in the formation stream. She is in the contemplative stream. This image is helpful, especially if whatever stream you are in is flowing toward the river and not away from it. We begin in the fresh spring that starts to flow into a backwater creek, then meets up with the scenic St Croix, and finally joins the mighty Mississippi.  "Until we attain..." 

Our ecclesiology is interim. The church triumphant, the angels and saints, are experiencing fullness, but, our current church experience is interim. Until we attain to the unity. Until maturity. Until fullness. We can't be fully catholic, until we are all catholic. Even Catholics can't be fully catholic, until we are all catholic. Until all the streams flow as one river.

We are all partial and immature, but we are moving toward fullness and maturity. We are growing up, and this is seen in learning lots of second languages--a gift of many tongues! We are and we are becoming one, holy, catholic, apostolic. 

We are becoming.