The Problem of theTwo Sections of the Protestant Church

The Basic Issue

The Protestant Church can be seen as being divided roughly int otwo main sections. In one section are the "Mainline Churches" and in the other are the "Evangelical Churches". In general, very little truth passes between these two Church groups, and few people understand why that is the case.

The precise nature of the two theological streams is of secondary importance to this project because, although it forms a philosophical underpining to two institutional groupings its detail, in itself, is not substantial to the problem at hand. Roughly, the Mainline Churches have a "Take Hold" approach to life an ministry, and the Evangelical Churches have a "let-go" approach to life and ministry

. What is of far more importance then the theological fine points, is the fact that the modern Protestant church on the prairies can be seen as split into two camps, the point of departure being their respective emphasis on one or other of these two themes. Few members within either group are familiar with finer points of theology of either outlook (including their own), but all seem to have a tendency to prefer either a "take hold" or a "let go" approach in a more general sense.

For a variety of reasons, such-as intermarriage, people with both outlooks can be found in either camp, so all ministers encounter the full range of outlook to some degree. For this reason, we, as ministers, come into contact with people from the other camp, we are often struck by the phenomena that sometimes a members of one group has need of what he other group has to offer, but seem to be unable to get close enough to "hear it". There are doubtless a number of reasons for this.

Whatever the reason might be, the problem facing ministers dealing with individuals in trouble, is how to empower a person who is obviously in need of the "insight" of the other group when they are so "allergic" to the way it is presented that they are unable to come close enough to it to receive help from that quarter.

That is, the problem is one of how a minister can link, or bridge, the "taking hold" with the "letting go" outlooks in the personal empowering process. To do so requires being consistent with that person's idiom and terms of reference while not selling out the essence of the truth one is trying to convey.

navigation