Haase_UZ_x007E_DTh (2).pdf - South African Theological Seminary

150
religions, eventually making possible the religious pluralism present in the West today.
Eschatology has turned from a mostly earthly manifestation (cf., postmillennialism) to a
spiritual, heavenly hope (cf., Heb. 12). The church and its clergy become increasingly
less central to societal functions. State magistrates and others, for example, could
conduct weddings and funerals. These public services were no longer only the domain of
the church. Social order became more a matter of being a good citizen than commitment
to the church. The church became more focused on morally influencing society, than in
controlling and ordering society as a whole. Church discipline and courts became an
internal, not society-wide, matter. Yet, there is still considerable confusion about how to
apply and endorse a Christian moral standard.
Murray also notes these changes as Christianity is further disestablished in Western
society: the church moves socially from (a) the centre to margins; from (b) majority to
minority; from being (c) settlers to sojourners; from (d) privileged, to one among many
(plurality); from (e) dominant and controlling, to marginalised and influencing; and from
(f) maintenance and ecclesio-centricity, to mission and movement orientation (Murray,
May 2004). Murray also says that it is important to note that “Post-Christendom is not
the experience of all Christians. It is the experience of Christians in Western Europe and
other societies with roots in this culture” (Murray, May 2004).
Even as Murray (who lives in the UK) speaks to all this, it is also important to note
that the disestablishment of the official Anglican state church in the United Kingdom has
not yet happened. There is a growing wave of sentiment for the disestablishment of the
church, but there also continues to be staunch resistance, especially within the church and
the government -- the power of tradition to avoid change. Those who resist
disestablishment fear the complete demise of Anglicanism. On one hand, it can be
argued that Anglicanism in the UK has lasted as long as it has only because it continues
to be state funded and supported. It can also be argued that the church is stronger where
separation is maintained between church and state, as in the US, for example. State
supported churches simply are not strong, healthy organisations that produce great
internal vitality. Ancient Israel up to the Exilic period is a perfect example of this. Much
like a child who never separates from protective parents, the UK churches in general, do
University of Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa