Untitled - St.Francis Magazine

St Francis Magazine Vol 8, No 2 | April 2012 13. Otherworldliness: The Apostles Paul, Peter and the author to the book of Hebrews and examples from church history all communicate the vision of a “vivid otherworldliness” of the priestly-­‐pilgrims in their sojourn on earth. One wonders if movements that inspire dual religious belonging do so. It is notable that the sociologists Roger Finke and Rodney Stark have observed that this was the key to the advance or decline of the church in America. They write: “to the degree that denominations rejected traditional doctrines and ceased to make serious demand on their followers, they ceased to prosper. The churching of America was accomplished by aggressive churches committed to vivid otherworldliness.” 148 14. True belonging: Whereas those who advocate “dual religious belonging” or “belonging by remaining” promise a true sense of belonging which is a longing at the core of every human, their promises are hollow. True belonging goes far beyond social acceptance by one’s peers. The children of Israel were seen as the bride of YHWH, his beloved, and His adopted son which are all ‘belonging’ relationships. The pastoral injunctions in the book of Hebrews point the audience to community with other witnesses past and present and most of all to the One who is not ashamed to be called their Brother (Heb 2:11; 11:16). Collectively they are called “the children of Christ” (2:13). What closer identification is possible, other than to say they are in Him and He is in them? 15. Vocation: Feldmeier asserts that the high calling of Christians is to be “strangers in this society.” He calls this their “vocation” and says this is “what they are supposed to be.” Clearly, what is asserted is that Christians know who they are. Can the same be said for the identity of someone with a religious a dual-­‐citizenship? 148 Roger Finke and Rodney Stark. The Churching of America, 1776-1990: Winners and Losers in Our Religious Economy. (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1994), p. 1. 268