I am sitting here looking at a list of doctrinal beliefs. It defines a certain kind of Christian. It sets him or her apart from other Christians who do not subscribe to this particular list. I’m not so sure Jesus ever intended there to be different kinds of Christians. Either you are or you are not. He had a criterion. In John 13:35 He clearly said, “People will know you are my disciples if you love one another.”
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus lists some characteristics Christians should exhibit – things like purity, humility, and hunger for righteousness. What I can’t find is Jesus’ list of theological tenets. I do realize if you are going to have an organization one needs parameters of membership. This is a fact of life one finds difficult to contend with. The problem is once you draw a circle to determine who is in you have automatically created those who are out. Isms create schisms. Perhaps this would not be so bad if it were not for human nature that then creates “them” and “us.” Of course “us” is the best group and “them” have deficits and are not quite as good as “us.” This is when love begins to suffer.
We need organization. Collectively we can accomplish so much more than we can if each of us is running our own little program. And so grows the problem out of our desire to accomplish much good. We can become so mentally attuned to tenets and theological purity that we then let slide Jesus’ criterion of loving. Some of the harshest people I have known are theological purists. To be a real Christian isn’t so much agreeing with each other as much as it is loving each other.
Written by Roger Bothwell on August 30, 2010
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org