Denominirony

Denominationalism encourages a stance of irony (insincerity, Charles Morrison called it in his 1953 The Unfinished Reformation, 46). We must think our denominational “distinctives” are important, or we wouldn’t be in the denomination. We are willing to use identifying language and markers to associate ourselves with those distinctives–church names, theological terms, uses of biblical texts, liturgical practices. Our identity is bound up with these distinctives.

But then it isn’t, not really. If these distinctives were truly of ultimate importance, if we really did identify ourselves by our denominational affiliation, we’d be much more hesitant toward the “others” and “other others” that make up the world of denominational Christianity.

Saying “I am Christian” and saying “I am Methodist” might be analogous to saying both “I am an American” and “I am a proud Virginian.” Double identities are not impossible. But the proud Virginian (these days, if not in 1800) will consider an resident of Massachusetts a fellow countryman. The Virginian identity is subordinated to the American.

We can distance ourselves from our denominational affiliations and identity. As John Cuddihy noticed, this is evident in the instinctive “happen” that we put into sentences like “I happen to be Baptist.” We’re aware that not everyone is, and there’s a half-apology in that “happen.” Morrison noticed that we sometimes acknowledge our doctrinal distinctives with a smirk or a wisecrack—Oh, yes, I’m one of those stern Calvinists.

Denominationalism produces a double Christian identity, which leaves space for irony. Perhaps it’s an expression of postmodern ironism. Perhaps it’s a source.