Church of tough love

At the close of 2006, the National Post carried a week-long series of articles considering the state of Canadian Christianity. The first article in the series, "Church of tough love", which appeared on December 23rd, carried the interesting observation that for churches in Canada, "...the way forward may in fact be the way backward". Contrary to "the natural and long-standing assumption…that they must become more accessible, modern and relevant," thePost article concludes that "…taking a more relaxed approach to liturgy, scripture and tradition, the experience of the past 40 years shows there comes a point when these liberal churches no longer represent a strong spiritual authority" - "Modernizing reforms might get good headlines, but in the long run, no one seeks shelter under a tree that bends with the wind". The article cites Jonathan Malloy, a political scientist at Carleton University, who concludes "There's no doubt that the religions that are growing are the ones that hold fast to certain answers, and are more definite in their answers, that are more clear in their doctrine and their teachings about what's right and wrong. For better or for worse, that's what people want to hear, that's what attracts them". Similarly, John Stackhouse, a theology and culture professor at B.C.'s Regent College, contends that "…the churches that grow best are those that 'combine conservative doctrine and conservative personal ethics with a complete freedom for innovation in almost everything else in church life,' such as the style of mass, the taking of communion, or the use of music". Stackhouse's analysis of church trends was immediately followed by a rather troubling and embarrassing statement by the author of the Post article, which placed "Lutherans" in the category of "the more liberal Canadian churches" such as the United Church!: "It is unclear how the more liberal Canadian churches - United, Anglican, Lutheran, among others - should respond to this sociological trend".