VIEWPOINTS |
Church and Society
Until Justice Rolls Down Like Waters and Righteousness Like a Mighty Stream By Collin Cowan, Council for World Mission
T
he conversation regarding the relationship between church and society has always been a contested space. The differing theological perspectives tend to centre around two broad categories - locating the church either as a separate community within the wider community of humanity or as an integral part of community with responsibilities, obligations and rights. The position one takes will determine the nature of the church’s contribution to civil society. The question is whether the church contributes to the ‘common good’ or functions as a ‘counter-culture’, whether the church’s prophetic and priestly roles serve to engage with society or stand in sharp contrast or in opposition to society. There is inextricable intersectionality between Church and society that is both inevitable and necessary. Society is a composition of all peoples – races, religions, cultures and communions; and the church is made up of people drawn from society. The church’s interest in the affairs of society is bound up in the church’s understanding that it is part and parcel of society, drawn from but belonging to society. According to the Church of Scotland: The Church and Society Council’s remit is to engage on behalf of the Church in the national, political and social issues affecting Scotland and the world today. This includes a huge range of issues including human rights, asylum, ethics, science and technology, concerns about gambling, climate change and education issues. It aims to do this through the 12
development of theological, ethical and spiritual perspectives when formulating policy and by effectively representing the Church by offering appropriate and informed comments.1 The Minnesota United Methodist Church, following the Wesleyan tradition, states it this way: As United Methodists, we are called to invite people to enter into a community of faith responsive to a vision of justice ministries that is biblically and theologically grounded, and to invite United Methodist congregations to play a prophetic role in bringing God’s vision to reality. Our mission is to advocate the gospel of Jesus Christ in the church and society.2 The Diakonia arm of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (PKN) embraces social engagement as part and parcel of its mission mandate. It makes a very vital link between evangelism and social action, claiming that they are inseparable. Stek – ‘Stad en Kirk’ - is a foundation in which the City Council and the Church combine efforts in response to a range of social issues affecting people on the social margins of society. Stek has as its mission the following, which links faith to justice: Stek – foundation for city and church – is The Hague based organisation targeting and supporting the less INSiGHT | June 2021
privileged in society. The foundation is inspired by the vital power of Christian faith and dedicates itself to improving social harmony, quality and vitality of life in the city. Historically, the tension has really never been so much between church and society. The real tension has been between church and power, the political and financial power structures that conflict with the theology and values of the religious community of which the church is a contender. Martin Luther, the 16th-century reformist, was ex-communicated from the church because of his discontent with the corruption in the church and his attempt at addressing the issue through the posting of his 95 theses. What followed was that other reformers, including John Calvin, contributed to his work and even “broadened the scope” to include all “worldly systems or institutions… (that) did not represent God’s justice and truth”. St Augustine, for example, defines hope’s twin cousins as anger and courage, in which he sees hope as being expressed in anger at the condition of the world and courage to do something about it. Hope so defined is the church at work. Systemic and structural power is a political arrangement, designed to control the masses and to serve the economic and social interest of the few. Empire defines power constructs, enshrined in systems and ideologies, with clear lines of demarcations that serves to divide and destroy. Notwithstanding, how the church responds to empire, with all its destructive vices, remains a contested
