One thing I really enjoyed about Jason Clark's response to Liquid Church, was that he challenged the popular belief that the problem with the modern church is not what we believe but what we do (the medium not the message). In response to Pete Ward's comment "Theology and values of the church are not up for grabs", Clark argues, correctly in my opinion, that the primary problem with the church is a misunderstanding of what the gospel is, which has in turn led to bad practise ("I don't think we are where we are as the church despite what we believe, I think we are where we are precisely because of what we believe.")
In particular, Clark looks at how one understand of the life and death of Christ (penal substitution) has led to conversion being about life after death, rather than a rediscovery of life before death, and so churches have become "places to warehouse people until they're dead".
As I was thinking about what Jason said over the weekend I became increasingly aware that this warped understanding of the gospel has had a dramatic effect on the ethics of Christianity. Of course, within mainline denominations things have improved and they continue to do so (check out Christian Ethical Investment Group), but still if you ask Christians what faith is about few mention anything to do with ethics; it seems to be an optional add-on rather than a non-negotiable such as baptism, communion or even going to church services.
In contrast if you look at Islam, compliance with a particular code of behaviour is crucial and so halal food and mortgages that comply with Shariah law are widely available. But where is the "Sermon on the Mount Mortgage"? I guess the absence of this and the reason fairtrade remains a relatively small market, is because ethical living is an optional extra of the faith. Consequently, as I hunt down the best mortgage deal I have little choice but to give my money to a lender who will in time invest my repayments in GlaxoSmithKlein, who continue to hold patents to drugs that would save thousands, or BAE, who supply weapons that will today kill Iraqi civilians.
I'm not pointing the finger here, I'm as guilty as anyone, but I wonder when ethics will be higher up the Christian agenda and whether or not God is going to kick my as for thinking to much about heaven and not enough about Africa!
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