No one can deny the role of history in our day to day lives. We are and will remain to be products and by-products of past events. What the world experiences today in the name of postmodernity is simply a complex transformation of what was practiced in the early days. This phenomenon is equally important in not only understanding our faith within the context of Christianity but also gives the power to speak authoritatively to a postmodern world.
It, therefore, follows that Classical Christianity is by far a better way of accomplishing this in a world full of pluralism, relativism, individualism, and the transition wave from modern faith to postmodern view (Webber 26).
This is vested in the fact that running into the future does not grow on modern perspectives but builds its commanding authority from the past. Classical Christianity develops its worship, faith, traditions, and practices from historic approaches that are fundamental in discovering the biblical and historical root of Christian faith and the church (Huovinen 70).
Classical Christianity connects between the present and the past thus permitting continuity in faith, beliefs, and practices; a reality that has been in existence since the time of the reformers in the 16th century (Webber 25). It has arguably been said that Classical Christian has the capacity of becoming the solid foundation for a unified approach towards witnessing to the current generation.
By adopting Classical Christianity as the main toolkit in speaking to the post- modernity age, it suffices to underline significant roles of the early church and how they have transformed theology through several transitions. The early church was charged with summarizing doctrines of the Christian faith like the Apostles’ Creed, Old Roman Symbol, and the rule of faith (Webber 28). Today, this faith is practiced and observed by Christians through the recitation of the Apostles’ Creed during worship services.
Additionally, Classical Christianity draws its congregants to the establishment of the canon of scripture which has not been rejected despite it having triggered scrutiny and controversy. As it is well recognized by Christians, the holy trinity has immense significance in the understanding of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
This Trinitarian concept is well affirmed and defined in early ecumenical creeds and enhances the understanding of the human and divine manifestations of Christ (Webber 28). These creeds are essential in explaining biblical truth, addressing contemporary issues, and form the basis of modern theological models.
Moreover, Christian ministries, sacraments, and ecclesiology are well enshrined in the ancient church and have remained significant points of reference in post-modernity. Besides this, current social issues like abortion and marriage offer challenging ethical approach whose understanding is well founded in the historic Christian approaches and which can be relayed to the post-modern world through Classical Christianity (Webber 29).
These, together with the definition of Christian worship and baptism, have developed a framework upon which theologians have placed their understanding and interpretation of the Christian faith. It can be summarized that Classical Christianity is the best tool to speak to post-modernity world because it carries the truth and power of the Christian faith.
Works Cited
Huovinen, Eero. Safeguarding Classical Christianity: Ecumenical Relations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. The Ecumenical Review. 48.1(1996): 69–78. Print.
Webber, Robert and Webber Robert. Ancient-future faith: rethinking evangelicalism for a postmodern world. New York, NY: Baker Academic, 1999. Print.