The only variety
Dear Friends,
’57 Varieties’ used to be the slogan of the Heinz Company. In fact, according to Wikipedia, they now manufacture more than 6000 products. It is often assumed that, similarly, there are endless varieties of Christianity on offer, and we are free to pick and choose the ones we prefer, or none at all, and even choose different varieties for different occasions if we wish. However, while it is true that some things in Christianity are matters of freedom and conscience, others are absolutely non-negotiable.
As the Roman Catholic of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, wrote recently in The Times, “Crucifixion Christianity is the only variety faithful to the historical facts in the life of the Master and to his Eucharistic teaching. And Crucifixion Christianity followed by the Resurrection … is the only set of facts and claims able to produce that certainty of faith, which sustains Christian communities across the centuries. Prosperity and tolerance have tempted us to forget these foundational perspectives and work more towards a benign indifference from unbelievers rather than for conversions, which will often be accompanied by protests and dismay.”
I recall the apostle Paul writing something similar to the Christians in Corinth: “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures … that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures … this is what we preach, and this is what you believed” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 11).
Chris Hobbs.
Vicar