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This articles borrows an idea from New York Times editorial columnist Thomas Friedman. In his recent book, Friedman wrote an insightful analogy of religion and software to describe how Muslims see today's religious world.
[For the unfamilair, software makers typically number their software releases with decimals, using round numbers like 3.0 for major releases with major changes, and using in-between numbers like 3.1 for minor upgrades.]
If theology was software, the International Churches of Christ (ICC) would be due for a major new "release." After decades of error and abuse, many in the ICC are realizing it needs a better "operating system" for the future. Just like computers need a solid operating system to run effectively, churches need sound theology.
The ICC's view of Christian history would look like this:
The apostles and First Century church taught Christianity 1.0 (authentic Christianity)
The Roman Catholic Church then came out with Christianity 2.0 (less accurate version)
The Protestant Reformation led by Martin Luther taught Christianity 3.0 (improvement on 2.0)
The Restoration Movement of the 1800s led to Christianity 4.0 (improvement on 3.0)
The mainline Churches of Christ taught Christianity 4.1 (the basis of ICC doctrine)
The Crossroads Movement that preceded the ICC taught what we could arbitrarily call Christianity 4.1.7 (the basis of many of the ICC's practices)
What did ICC founder Kip McKean do? In actual ICC history, McKean came out with Christianity 4.1.7.1, but convinced his followers it was really 1.1, the most authentic Christianity taught in 2000 years.
Let's be very clear why Kip McKean's theology (4.1.7.1) was a variation of what came before:
It's now clearer than ever, during this time of upheaval and reassessment, that 4.1.7.1 was "buggy" software, racked with problems and susceptible to many viruses (elitism, deception, control, etc.). Most agree it needs to be replaced with something different and better. The main struggle in the ICC right now seems to be a battle over how much different the new program needs to be. Does the ICC need a minor upgrade, or major changes?
Certainly, different groups in the ICC will propose different solutions. We should ask them each, "What kind of software are you selling?"
In this time of chaos, some hard-liners in the ICC -- including some well-positioned current leaders -- may try to sell the movement on Christianity 4.1.7.2 (new/improved discipling and control) to replace the old version, all the while claiming it is Christianity 1.2 (a more accurate restoration of "true Christianity").
The ICC's conservative core will likely try to sell 4.1.1 (a version more like the traditional Churches of Christ) in an attempt to move closer to the mainline church (note that baptism doctrine may remain a "sacred cow" for these people).
Progressives in the ICC will try to sell people on their own idea for Christianity 5.0. Unfortunately for them, it will be different than other individuals' ideas of what 5.0 should be, making it a tough sell.
Meanwhile, many members will leave the ICC entirely, deciding they prefer Christianity 2.0, 3.0, etc. -- or no Christianity at all -- compared to whatever their ICC congregation is now doing.
And because there is no central authority in the ICC anymore after its decentralization, different parts of the church will likely choose different paths and move closer to an outright split.
If the ICC wants to make better spiritual software in the future, it must reconsider all of these:
Let's hope for the sake of the ICC's remaining members that they get it right. What is most scary right now is that some will try to sell the ICC on Christianity 4.1.7.2, buggy, virus-laden "software" -- all the while claiming it is Christianity 1.2, the best and latest version of "true Christianity". Let the buyer beware.
Copyright © 2003 Dave Anderson. All rights reserved.
