Apologetics

In the Chapel of the Good Shepherd at the General Theological Seminary, where a great deal of my formation as a priest took place, the walls are carved with the names of the multitude of professors who taught over the course of nearly two centuries. Their names are categorized by the disciplines on which they held forth. Indicative of an institution that began forming priests within a couple of decades of the Continental Congress, some of the descriptions of those disciplines sound strange to 21st century ears.

Chief among them is the discipline of Apologetics. In the last century or so, the traditional use of this word “apologetics” has been nearly completely taken over by the word apology, as in to tell someone that you have done them wrong in the hopes of reconciliation. Unfortunately, this sense of apology is reflective of a majority of mainline Christians in the United States––that is, we act as if we have to apologize for being Christian. (here I believe that this feeling is related to, but still distinct from what has been done in the name of Christ)

In fact, the use of this term “apologetics” has more to do with an explanation of why one believes. This, now this, is something that every follower of Jesus should be prepared to do. In the words of of 1 Peter, “Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence.”

It is with this intent that a couple of books were published this past year. One of them is My Church Is Not Dying, by Greg Garrett. The other is Convictions: How I Learned What Matters Most, by Marcus Borg. Both are written by men who are university professors, Garrett at Baylor University, Borg, who died a few months ago, retired from Oregon State University. Interestingly, both grew up in other Christian traditions more conservative in their approach to scripture. This informs a great deal about why they found the Episcopal Church and what it offers us as we tell others about what we have been gifted with in this tradition.

Greg Garrett took a decidedly 21st century approach to his book, My Church is Not Dying. Part personal narrative, part theological exposition, part nuts-and-bolts explanation, in addition to his own story, Garrett reached out to other Episcopalians on Facebook and through other means to ask for testimonials about why people have found themselves in an Episcopal church and what keeps them there. This is a book that people who have already found their way in can enjoy. It covers the basics about the Anglican approach in an informal, conversational style but is grounded in one basic premise: that there is a great future ahead for the Episcopal Church. Because of our understanding of scripture, our emphasis on common prayer and our core corporate practices Garrett sees hope for the decades to come. He is aware that change will need to take place in order for the Episcopal Church to respond to the current cultural climate but feels that the our heritage and direction have us poised to do so.

Though Marcus Borg has a somewhat different intent in his book, Convictions, there is a similar sense to his apologetic. This is his last book before his death this past year and it serves as a final word on his beliefs. Like Garrett, Borg found his way into the Episcopal Church as an adult. For his scholastic life, however, he was drawn to New Testament studies and he collaborated for decades with John Dominic Crossan, opening up a new way into the scriptures for scores of readers.

This book comes out of a set of classes and sermons that Borg wrote for the Episcopal congregations that he attended in Portland and Bend, Oregon. It is grounded in the notion that Divinity Is, that we humans are only mostly accurate in our recording of encounters with the Divine, and that to be a follower of Jesus the Christ is to connect our believing––or be-loving in his words––with the everyday world. These will be familiar themes for those who have read Marcus Borg’s work over the years, but what makes this book unique is that he connects his own narrative to why these themes became so important for him personally.

Unlike My Church is Not Dying, Convictions was not written explicitly so that others would draw close to the Episcopal Church though Borg’s approach is so thoroughly Anglican, it might just serve to do so. But this was one of those books that as I was reading, I kept thinking of people who would enjoy it, find it meaningful. In that way, it serves as an excellent apologetic: through reading Borg’s story and his thoughtful approach to spirituality, scripture and personal and communal ethics, one is drawn in to a way of encountering life that takes stock of what is and gives hope to what might be.

My own hope is that we are able to draw on stories like these at All Souls as we prepare to tell our stories to others. Because one of the clear and consistent themes for both Garrett and Borg is that we have all been given a tremendous gift in the heritage, foundations and practice of the Episcopal Church. There are many whose lives will be enriched by coming close to God in this way we have found. But they will only know about this “best kept secret” if someone (say, you and me) tells them.

Peace,

Phil+