‘Christianity Reformed from its Roots’

Author: Jairo Mejia

Publisher: iUniverse, Lincoln, NE, USA [2008]

“I do not want to attack the Roman Catholic Church nor any other denomination… What I want to do is give information to my readers. This book is not in the spirit of proselytising, nor am I looking for adherents. This book is mostly informative with fifty years of historical perspective.” [p. 30]

This is a key to approaching this book. Jairo Mejia was an eminent Catholic Priest and theologian. He was called as an expert to the preparatory work that resulted in the Second Vatican Council held by Pope John XXIII. However, being too liberal for the conservative bishops in Latin America he was subsequently dismissed from his work in the Catholic Church. But Mejia is never bitter towards the Church that disowned him. However, Mejia calls for a return to the roots of Christianity; to the pre- 4^th – 6^th century Councils of the Church and their developing theological concepts that corrupted the earlier centring in God. It is a record of the reformation of Mejia’s Christian faith spread over 50 years. In fact, ‘Christianity Reformed from its Roots’ is two books plus a short book of prayers.

The first ‘book’ is a thorough critique and commentary concerning the traditional teachings of the Christian Church. It will be particularly suited to those on the edge of Church life, discontent with the ancient creeds and doctrines and yet not knowing what the alternative might be. However, the entire book is summed up in the opening paragraph of Chapter 2:

An e-mail I received stated, “Reverend, I need a one-page summary of what being a Christian means.” My answer was, “I’d rather say it in one sentence. To be a Christian means to be like Jesus, to live according to the gospel of Jesus. You may amplify this sentence ten or a thousand times, but the essence is the same; the rest are interpretations.”

Mejia’s arguments are presented in each chapter as distinct but loosely related essays tracking the development of his thinking upon specific issues over a period of time, the arguments can seem to be disjointed. Too frequently the flow is broken by comments such as, “See the essays, ‘Is it possible to know who Jesus really was?’ and ‘A deeper reflection on Jesus’ in Chapter 4.” Although a radical challenge to the Christian Church, Mejia does not escape either traditional theology such as God as a paternal Omnipresent Being, nor the traditional gender exclusive language concerning God. Perhaps the best way to read ‘book’ one is not to try to do so in one sitting. It will be better understood by using a single essay from the opening 8 chapters as a daily reader for personal meditation. This will give at least 50 days of excellent study meditation material.

The ‘second’ book is much more for the progressive Christian. For example, in chapter 7 when considering the nature of the Bible he says:

“Men, not God, have made the Bible “Word of God.” The Bible as a whole cannot be the revealed Word of God for all peoples and ages. There is no reason to believe that the mentality and knowledge (or rather, ignorance) of the people who lived two or three thousand years ago would set the guidelines for human beings of all time. That is not rational. That is absurd.”

This ‘second’ book presents a coordinated and coherent argument with fewer references to other essays. This results in a clearer path through what he calls Schema One and Schema Two. These are presented as statements followed by insightful reflections. If ‘book’ one was the milk of his personal reformation, ‘book’ two is the meat – and it is a fine feast! It begins with three chapters under the title ‘The New Vision’ and then concludes with two further chapters considering ‘The New Enlightenment’. Not only should this ‘second’ book be required reading in all theological seminaries, it should be of great interest to those who are making a similar journey from the certainty of the creeds and doctrines of the Church into the insecurity and provisional nature of progressive Christianity.

The final part of ‘Christianity Reformed from its Roots’ could have been published as a separate book of prayers. These are honest and open prayers that should be supplemented by more examples from Mejia’s vibrant prayer life. Perhaps his prayer of submission and thanks to God [chapter 16] demonstrates what the insights of the book and the focus of the prayers are all about:

“Jesus, model of dedication to God: I would love to live devoted to God, as you. That is to be your disciple, a Christian.”

An alphabetical subject index, a comprehensive bibliography and an excellent glossary complete this book. Mejia’s God is not a delusion, but nor is it the God of the past. It is the One God of All regardless of the Name given to the Gateway into the Sacred. It is worth the effort to read it and to be challenged and encouraged.

Rev John Churcher, 1 Maplefield, Park Street, St Albans, AL2 2BD - UK