Orthodoxy is a Circle
June 20, 2009Reading a book, recently, that was discussing the varying theological viewpoints emerging during and soon after the Reformation, I had a simple vision that went like this:
A large circle had been drawn on the ground and two people were standing on the lines, face to face, one foot on either side of the line.
The two walked backwards, away from each-other, yet keeping their feet on the line. Soon, they had traveled around the circle and were as far away from each-other as they could be. They were shouting at each-other and arguing about their doctrines, and how different they were, etc.
Then a voice said loudly, “Turn around!!”
The two turned and realized they were now, in turning, face-to-face.
This is how I have felt reading outside of the “middle-way” claimed by the Anglicans. I have come to believe there is, in fact, no such thing as a “middle-way” (mostly because the Anglicans are not the only ones to claim to have come up with one!) Orthodoxy is a circle – not a line – and the interesting thing is that those who have become, in the mind of some, quite “far away” are actually much closer than they think. Take the Anabaptist and the Anglicans, for example…
