Five Covered Colonnades
– An unusual approach to church life.
In this article:
Introduction
I was brought up as an “Evangelical.” This up-bringing gave me many wonderful gifts, for which I am grateful to this day. But, as I entered midlife and encountered certain difficulties, and experienced a dryness in my Christian life, I became aware that my evangelical background was not proving totally adequate to my needs. I had worked a number of years for Scripture Union and at Rosebank Union Church, and in both I started mixing with people from other Christian backgrounds, and I realised that they had a lot to offer. One of the people who helped me greatly, Trevor Hudson, introduced me to the writings of Henri Nouwan, Thomas Merton and Richard Foster. I also spent a week at the Church of the Saviour in Washington DC where I met Gordon Cosby the founder of the church, and I was introduced to the writings of Elizabeth O’Connor. I also had, in midlife, a new experience in the Holy Spirit. (See my article “My experience with the Holy Spirit.”)
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All of these things have led me to an unusual approach to church life, namely to try to develop a balanced vision of Christian faith which draws on the experience of the whole church - across all denominations, and throughout Christian history. This is by no means original. It was pioneered and promoted by Richard Foster through the Renovaré movement. The more I deliberately sought to draw on the teaching and experience of all branches of Christianity, the richer my life became. In fact, I have come to believe that a fully-rounded Christian will demonstrate in their lives the best of all of these colonnades. Obviously, one does not do this blindly: all branches of Christianity have their weaknesses and their blind spots (at times even their heresies). But the old Latin saying is important: “Abusus non tollit usum.”– the abuse of something does not negate its usefulness. In more common terms, we must be careful not to throw out the baby with the bathwater. It is really important in all of the “colonnades” not to judge a movement by its failures or excesses.
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I came to call this “The Five Colonnades,” based on John 5:1-14 where there is a pool called Bethesda, surrounded by five covered colonnades. There a man used to lie, who had been paralysed for thirty eight years, until Jesus came to him and healed him. It did not matter which colonnade Jesus came through, what mattered was that he healed him. In the same way, Jesus may come to us in many different ways – through any of the strands of Christianity – to bless and enrich our lives.
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Below I have tried to portray each of the five colonnades, portraying the strengths and weaknesses of each one. Sometimes a have portrayed the weaknesses of colonnade a little tongue-in-cheek, and have poked a little fun. I hope no one will take offence.
The Evangelical Colonnade
Definition:
All of the colonnades arise from a deep instinct in us. The Evangelical Colonnade arises from an instinct for truth – the need to think our religion.This is the branch of Christianity that places tremendous emphasis on truth, and on salvation by repentance and faith. Evangelicals hold a very high view of Scripture, and place great value on the accurate exposition and preaching of the Bible. Perhaps their favourite verse is: “If you hold to my teaching, you are my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:34)
Weaknesses
When taken to excess, evangelicalism can lead to fundamentalism, which often carries with it an element of legalism and literalism in interpreting Scripture. This has often led evangelicals to exclude others because they do not fit into their particular interpretation of Scripture. Sometimes, evangelicals have become too cerebral – too intellectual, lacking in understanding of emotion and of human failings. Sometimes they have become too critical and judgemental and, ironically (considering they were born in the non-conformist movement) they have become extremely traditional and resistant to new things.
An ardent Baptist was once talking to a Methodist, and asked, “Why are you a Methodist?” The Methodist answered, “Because my father was a Methodist, and my grandfather was a Methodist.” The Baptist replied, “And if your father had been a nitwit and your grandfather had been a nitwit?” Then, replied the Methodist, “I would have been a Baptist!”
Strengths
The Evangelical movement carried the burden of evangelizing the world for most of the 19th and the first half of the 20th century, and countless thousands (probably millions) have been led to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ through the Evangelical movement. Good Evangelicals know their Bible and have a strong concept of truth, which is often saved the church from heresy. This concept of truth is particularly important in this era of fake-news and relativism. The Evangelical Colonnade has produced great theologians and thinkers like John Stott and Martyn Lloyd Jones who have helped guide the church through difficult and dangerous times. It has produced great evangelists like Billy Graham, and has also been at the heart of many social achievements. (The greatest of these was probably the ending of slavery, under the Evangelical church at Clapham who were behind the work of William Wilberforce.) The non-conformist roots of the Evangelical church have also given it, at its best, great freedom from tradition.
Definition:
This is the branch of Christendom that has a great love for beautiful buildings, beautiful words, predictable liturgy, and things that have stood the test of time. Their favourite verse is possibly, “One thing I ask, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, gaze upon the beauty of the Lord, and seek him in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4.) These are people who like to appreciate their religion. The Traditional colonnade is based on the human instinct for beauty and for solidity.
Weaknesses
At its worst, the traditional colonnade can become very repetitive and boring. It can lead to sacramentalism –the belief that the acts of taking Holy Communion, baptising babies, administering last rites, etc, can in themselves make us holy or bring us to God. Sometimes people in this colonnade consider themselves to be Christians simply because they attend church. The traditional colonnade has sometimes led to institutionalism and inflexibility, and at times it has lost sight of the individual’s needs to come to Christ by repentance and faith. At times it has led to dead orthodoxy.
A story is told of the man who had been filled with the Holy Spirit and came into a traditional church. He kept calling out “Hallelujah” and “Praise the Lord.” A sidesman came up to him and asked him to be quiet, but he answered, “I can’t help it, I’ve got the Holy Spirit.” The sidesman replied, “Well you didn’t get it here, sir.”
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Strengths
The Traditional Colonnade has blessed the world with magnificent buildings and beautiful words and liturgies. It brings to worship majesty, dignity and respect. When you are in one of their buildings, you inevitably think about the greatness of God, and the architecture always directs your eyes upward. Its people have learned to submit to authority, and to the liturgies and Eucharist – giving a concept of submission often missing in other colonnades. The ancient words of the liturgy, especially when learnt young, form a deep foundation for character and belief, and are often of great comfort on the deathbed. As people submit to the liturgy, particularly of the Eucharist, it forces them to slow down – it won’t be hurried. We desperately need to learn to slow down. Because of its set routines, the Traditional Colonnade does far more reading of Scripture and intercessory prayer than the other colonnades. A charismatic friend of mine once said, "Every now and again I go to an Anglican church, because they pray around the world." And because of its love of tradition, the Traditional Colonnade has stood the test of time, and has not been too easily swayed by every new wind of doctrine. Ironically, however, it was has been more able than the Evangelical Colonnade to absorb the best of the charismatic renewal – producing a very beautiful combination of freshness and stability. They have had a great impact on confronting social and political evils, and including other cultures into their rituals.
The Traditional Colonnade
The Charismatic Colonnade
Definition:
This colonnade arises from our instinct for the experiential – our need to feel our religion. This is a group of people and churches who place great emphasis on the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. They distinguish between the experience of conversion and of receiving the Holy Spirit (commonly called “the baptism in the Holy Spirit.”) Their worship is characterised by expressiveness, joyfulness and emotion. They place great store on implicit faith. They emphasise loving relationships, and “ministering” to one another. Church government is often based on “the four-fold ministry” (apostles, prophets, evangelists and pastor-teachers), and the concept of “anointing.” They encourage submission to such leaders. Their favourite verse is “Be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks. Submit to one another.” (Ephesians 5:18-21)
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Weaknesses
At its worst, the Charismatic movement is guilty of emotionalism and of judgementalism. At times they have come across as superior, regarding people in traditional churches as not being filled with the Holy Spirit, or even of not being Christians. Some have tended to define people as "being filled" by external signs such as speaking in tongues, or being “slain in the Spirit." Preaching has sometimes tended to lack solid exegesis, and focus on fairly small parts of Scripture. Prayer in worship services has tended to become shallow – often no more than a re-hash of the words of the previous song, and there tends to be very little public Scripture reading or intercessory prayer.They have been rather subject to the coming and going of spiritual fads, some of which have been rather silly. The Charismatic Colonnade has been guilty of a lack of clear thinking, and even of discouraging individual thought. The emphasis on the four-fold ministry and on anointed leadership has sometimes led to domination, manipulation and unthinking submission.
Strengths
Charismatics have brought the church a wonderful new sense of worship – both joyful and reverent. They have revolutionised church music. They have given to the church wonderful sense of freedom and expressiveness. They have awakened the church to the reality of the Holy Spirit and of the gifts that he gives. They have made a great contribution to encouraging Christians to have a real, expectant faith. They have reawakened the church in the area of loving and of ministering to one another. They have had great success in racial mixing, and have picked up the batten of evangelising the world. In South America they have been the fastest-growing branch of the church for many years. By no means all charismatics have been shallow thinkers. Rick Godwin (an international charismatic speaker) made the delightful comment: "I'm charismatic, but I've got a brain!"
The Contemplative Colonnade
Definition:
This colonnade arises from our instinct for meaning – the need to perceive our religion. This section of the Christian church finds that the greatest spiritual meaning arises from inwardness. They emphasise Christ within, and find that God speaks in the “still small voice.” They value silence and contemplation. Their favourite verse might be: “Guard your steps when you go into the house of the Lord. Go to listen rather than offer the sacrifice of fools. God is in heaven, you are on earth, therefore let your words be few.” (Ecclesiastes 5:2)
Weaknesses
Contemplative people can become too introverted, and guilty of “naval-gazing.” They can become uninvolved in the world, and rather detached. There is always a danger of exalting the “still small voice” over the teaching of Scripture, and, as a result, of going off at spiritual tangents. As always, these negatives indicate people who have lost the thread of their colonnade.
In a particular monastery, monks were allowed to speak only two words per year. At the end of the first year one young monk said, “Bed hard.” At the end of the second year he said, “Food bad.” At the end of the third year he said, “I’m leaving.” At this the head monk said, “I’m not surprised, you’ve done nothing but complain since you arrived.”
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Strengths
These are people who have a deep personal experience of God, which is both emotional and intellectual. They often demonstrate a great serenity. They place great emphasis on the spiritual disciplines – especially the discipline of silence and contemplation (commonly called “Retreat”) which they believe is often the only way to discover what is really going on within us. They can be extremely honest with themselves, and are particularly willing to face the hidden sins, hurts, hang-ups, and addictions which often rule our lives. They are particularly open to go for counselling (or spiritual direction) to help them with these things. They believe that the “still small voice” is often drowned out by noise and busyness – hence, again, their emphasis on Retreat. They are open to hear God speaking to them in many ways – especially from within themselves and through nature. They are often more able than other Christians to live with paradox. And, at their best, they are very involved in social action.
Mother Teresa, appearing on the Dan Rather show, was asked what she does in her times of silence and contemplation. She answered, “I listen.” Dan Rather asked, “Yes . . . and what does God do?” She answered, “He listens . . . And if you don’t understand that, I can’t explain it to you.”
The Social-action Colonnade
Definition:
The Social-Action Colonnade arises from our instinct to achieve, to do good – for our need to act out our religion. These are people who enjoy the “Martha ministry” – they believe in showing their faith by their works. They believe that to be a true Christ-follower, one must show active compassion.
Their favourite verse is: “Faith, by itself, if not accompanied by actions, is dead.” (James 2:17)
Weaknesses
At its worst, the Social-Action Colonnade can degenerate into salvation by works. It can attract workaholics – people who glory in being busy, but are often too busy- their busyness is often an avoidance of facing issues within themselves. They can come to lack personal faith in Christ, and to see God as a boss to be placated. They can become drawn into socio-political side-tracks. They can become very critical of Christians not as involved in social issues as they are. They can become so caught up in helping people physically, that they neglect to help them spiritually as well. Even Evangelicals have become workaholics at times – even when their work is evangelism and church-planting.
Contemplatives often wish they could say to workaholics: “We are human beings, not human doings.”
Strengths
People in the Social-Action Colonnade demonstrate the love of Jesus – they don’t just talk about it. They bring to the world the compassion of Christ. This colonnade often gives rise to a genuine prophetic ministry against the evils of society. They particularly challenge the structures of this world, which often requires involvement in politics, or in challenging politicians. At times, this has required great courage. They bring to the world a passion for the lost and the hurting. They have a great vision for change.
Mother Teresa (also a great contemplative) was probably the greatest example of the Social-Action Colonnade.
A bonus colonnade
The Holiness Colonnade
Definition
This could be called the “forgotten colonnade,” but it is not forgotten by God. It arises from our deep instinct for goodness. People in this colonnade believe that God is honoured by our holiness and purity of living. Their favourite verse would be “Be ye holy, for I am holy, says the Lord.” (1 Peter 1:15-16.)
The Holiness movement has a great tradition dating back to the Desert Fathers of the third century; the Wesleyan movement of the 18th century; the Holiness revival of the 19th century in America; and the “second blessing” teaching of the Keswick movement. This second blessing was for the filling of the Holy Spirit for a holy living, not for experience. Very few people know that it was at Holiness meetings that the modern charismatic movement was born in 1906.
Weaknesses
The most obvious weakness of the Holiness movement is a proneness to legalism. At times it has become absurd. For example it was considered “unholy” in the 1920s to have the bicycle with handlebars turned down. There is a danger of confusing external things like hair, clothing and handlebars with inner holiness. These people can become very judgemental and even lose touch with the concept of salvation by grace. They can also become too preoccupied with perfectionism, and so lose their joy.
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Strengths
The Holiness movement gave to the world the concept of a holy God. They emphasised that Christians were to be distinctly different from the world; that Jesus said we were to be in the world but not of it. They gave great emphasis to the fact that we are called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world; that we are to be a living rebuke to the evils of the world. At their best, people in the Holiness movement were very joyful, because they were free of guilt which nags away at Christians who are worldly. At its best, the Holiness Colonnade does not focus on externals, but on holiness of the heart.
The Holiness movement has become the forgotten colonnade. The reason for this is that the world underwent a huge change 20th century in the whole concept of absolute right and wrong. Post-modernism – the concept that there are no absolutes – has crept into everything including much of church life. Many Christians nowadays are not easy to distinguish from non-Christians, and this is a great tragedy.
Conclusion
We cannot be an expert in all six colonnades. We will always stay somewhat close to our roots, and our temperament and gifting will play a part. But I believe we all have the six instincts with in us, albeit to different degrees. So I encourage everyone to try to take the best of all the colonnades and incorporate them into their life and worship. We want to allow God to come to us in whatever way he chooses.
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The bottom line is, “If you seek me you will find me … And I will be found of you, if you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)
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The key is to be open.