Introduction
Welcome to Part 2 on my “What is Mere Christianity?” series. This entry comes courtesy of leading Canadian theologian and public intellectual, John Stackhouse. Dr. Stackhouse is the Samuel J. Mikolaski Professor of Religious Studies and Dean of Faculty Development at Crandall University in Moncton, New Brunswick. Previously, he was the Sangwoo Youtong Chee Professor of Theology and Culture at Regent College. Stackhouse is a prolific writer: he’s the author of ten books including Why You’re Here: Ethics for the Real World (Oxford University Press, 2017), editor of several more, and author of several hundred articles, book chapters, and reviews. Whew!
Stackhouse also rides a Kawasaki Vulcan (but we Honda-guys won’t hold that against him). And he drives a Volkswagen Golf R (in short, the perfect blend of practicality with Nürburgring-shredding performance).
And now, without further ado …
John Stackhouse on Mere Christianity
“Mere Christianity would be, of course, the doctrinal core of the gospel, but also piety and practices that are mutually implicated along with that theology. Christianity, of course, is centrally about relating properly to God through Jesus Christ in the Spirit, so ‘mere Christianity’ is the life of worship, church membership (in Paul’s strong sense of ‘member’), and mission. Specifying what belongs under those heads, and how they relate organically to each other, is what specifying ‘mere Christianity’ would be. But I’ve written too much already…!”
Reflections
Perhaps the most notable aspect of Stackhouse’s description is the combination of doctrinal claims with “piety and practices”. In short, mere Christianity is not simply a minimal set of essential beliefs. It is, rather, a minimal set of identifying characteristics and those characteristics include both a “doctrinal core” and actions that accompany that core. Stackhouse has made a very important point for it would surely be grossly reductionist to think that the core essence of the Christian faith can be reduced simply to a set of propositional affirmations.
So which specific doctrines and practices does Stackhouse identify with mere Christianity? Doctrinally, he refers to the fact that relationship with God is mediated through Son and Spirit in the life of the church and her mission. But he does not provide a more precise description of what one must believe about God or the means by which we relate to God, though as his statement suggests, that further clarification would come with a longer description. Nonetheless, it is notable that this precision does not make it into the most basic tier.
The question of practice and worship calls to mind the role of sacraments. While most Christians practice at least two sacraments — the rite of initiation (baptism) and the rite of participation (communion) — a handful of ecclesial communions (e.g. Salvation Army; Quakers) eschew the formal sacraments. So should we say that these are not true Christian communions? That doesn’t seem right.
In closing, I’ll offer my own suggestion for the essential practices that accompany the core confessions of mere Christainity. Perhaps we might locate the basic and universal practices of the church vis-a-vis worship and mission simply as loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and loving one’s neighbor as oneself. And also making disciples who do the same.
