Theological Traditions and Christian Hospitality
Theological Perspective
- The unity for which Jesus prayed in John 17 is not uniform beliefs and intepretations but the oneness of mutually indwelling love for each other in the Father of the Jesus the Messiah.
- There is always diversity even while unity exists because we live as historically contingent persons situated in historical particularity.
- We may recognize the boudnaries of particular historical Christian traditions without denying the unity of the people of God in Christ because these boundaries are rooted in the unavoidable particulality of Christian traditions.
- We live within an already-not yet eschatological tension, which understands the “not yet” involves the fullest expression of unity that is unattainable in the alreadiness of present existence.
The Call to Christian Hospitality
- Hospitality begins with the divine initiative; we are hospitable to others because God was first hospitable to us.
- Christian traditions are particular expressions of faith within the flow of human history, and these traditions represent a commitment to a particular understanding of the faith rather than simply an affirmation of tradition (though the value of tradition is not undermined).
The Character of Christian Hospitality
- Differentiation but not Exclusion. We can embrace each other even though we are differentiated. We can live distinctly without disruption of communion or connection.
- A common confession of Jesus as the incarnate Son of God in conjunction with a commitment to love each other entails a common experience of the Spirit whom God has given to us (1 John 3:23-24).
- We recognize a common story (the Rule of Faith, Apostles’ Creed), a common love, and a common goal. We embrace each other though are traditions are differentiated, but differentiation does not exclude; rather, it embraces.