I'm well on my way reading through the recent slim but worthwhile volume called The Rebel Christ by Michael Coren. You may be aware that Coren is a journalist and author of a number of books. In years past he also had a television talk show with several guests on each episode to discuss a wide range of topics, some of them controversial. It was obvious that Coren was a theological conservative and at the time of his show a champion for Roman Catholicism.
I tuned in regularly because he was articulate and invited guests from a variety of perspectives and didn't fit the dreary but deserved stereotypes of some conservative Christians. I stopped watching because he was something of a pitbull regarding Catholicism at times, and he was contemptuous of the United Church, the denomination in which I was a minister. That Michael Coren came to Bowmanville when I served there to speak at a rally opposing the legalization of same-gender or equal marriage in Canada. Needless to say, I didn't attend.
The Rebel Christ and Coren's previous book, Epiphany, reflect his personal "road to Damascus" experience eight years ago which resulted in radical shifts in outlook about the scope of the gospel of love. Coren is still an unabashedly orthodox Christian but he has repented of what he describes as a judgmental outlook to embrace an inclusive theology and practice. As he says in the introduction to The Rebel Christ he now has "a belief system based on peace justice equality forgiveness inclusion humanity care for the marginalized poor and weak a rejection of materialism and a commitment to a new fundamentally new and different society..."
I am convinced that Coren's conversion is genuine and he writes well about his own journey and the Christ he follows as a result. We had him as a guest speaker at Bridge St Church before my retirement and his passion and conviction were evident. There has been a cost for Coren, financially and otherwise, because rather than listening to his reasons for change he was rejected outright by many of the media venues which formerly availed themselves of his opinions. I see the attacks on social media by those of the "they'll know we are Christians by our hate" ilk who are furious that he has become more inclusive.
What do I think of the Rebel Christ? I've smiled a number of times while reading as he espouses viewpoints which fit very well with a United Church ethos, given his consistent negativity in the past toward our denomination. After years of study Michael is now an ordained Anglican priest but it seems to me he would not be uncomfortable in the UCC.
Coren has courageously and succinctly addressed three hot-button topics in the realm of the religious right: socialism, LGBTQ2 acceptance, and abortion. As I've read it occurs to me that this would be a good book to share with someone who is conservative in outlook but open to new possibilities. Or someone who is newer to the faith and would benefit to a clear exploration of the topics.
To circle back around, I appreciate that while Michael Coren's conclusions about the expression of the gospel have changed significantly, his devotion to Christ hasn't. Was Jesus intentionally a rebel? He was radically faithful, whatever the consequences would be, so in that respect, yes. Would I call him the rebel Christ? Perhaps not, but I would enjoy having that conversation with Michael.
It's been a while since I posted a Groundling blog entry. Here's the link about the "birds of the air" on a -23C morning.
https://groundlingearthyheavenly.blogspot.com/2022/01/considering-birds-at-minus-23c.html
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