My good friend Christy Smith sent me the following quote from an article about St. Patrick in a back edition of Christianity Today:
"Patrick did not require the native Irish to surrender their belief in supernatural beings. They were only to regard these beings in a new light as demons. The fear of the old deities was transformed into hatred of demons. If Christianity had come to Ireland with only theological doctrines, the hope of immortal life, and ethical ideas—without miracles, mysteries, and rites—it could have never wooed the Celtic heart."
Patrick and the Celtic Christians have been cited on more than a few occasions in recent years as exemplifying the kind of approach to mission that is needed in a 21st century postmodern context.
I am sure there is something to this, even if some of the contrasts between Roman Christianity and Celtic Christianity and sometimes presented as being a bit too sharp.
"Patrick did not require the native Irish to surrender their belief in supernatural beings. They were only to regard these beings in a new light as demons. The fear of the old deities was transformed into hatred of demons. If Christianity had come to Ireland with only theological doctrines, the hope of immortal life, and ethical ideas—without miracles, mysteries, and rites—it could have never wooed the Celtic heart."
Patrick and the Celtic Christians have been cited on more than a few occasions in recent years as exemplifying the kind of approach to mission that is needed in a 21st century postmodern context.
I am sure there is something to this, even if some of the contrasts between Roman Christianity and Celtic Christianity and sometimes presented as being a bit too sharp.
2 comments:
The playing down of the Holy Spirits supernatural gifts as a necessity in Christian ministry is also something that continually needs highlighting. We all agree that there is no non-supernatural Jesus in the NT ... but what gets forgotton is the same is true of the ministry of Paul and the NT church ...
Best wishes from Dublin,
Keith M
Thanks for that Keith. Good to hear some comment from an old friend in the land of Patrick. Agree wholeheartedly with your point. Hope you're well.
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