somewhere along the line we added beliefs to salvation. when did this happen? at what time did we as a church decide that in order for you to have salvation you must believe the right things? i don’t think that it has ever been implicitly stated this way by anyone, but it is acted upon in many different circles. look at the degredation of catholicism by protestants (The Pope Is In Hell) or at how the Emerging Church is viewed as a heresy (EmergentNo) and everyone involved are condemned to hell because of their beliefs, Catholics hate Lutherans, Lutherans hate Catholics, liberal sects of church are put off by conservative sects and vice versa…all over their specific beliefs.
I’m not sure that Jesus had this in mind when he prayed in John 17.
Why are we so eager to divide based on what we believe? Why do we always have to be exactly right on every point and only our church or denomination or belief structure does it the right way? If that’s the case, then there are a whole lot of people that are screwed. There is no way that one single denomination has it all right, every single ‘truth-claim’ to be true, but I think we all have the fundamental question correct-’who is Jesus?’. I like how Don Everts puts it in “Jesus With Dirty Feet” when he says,
“Jesus was not a Christian. He never asked anyone to become a Christian, never built a steepled building, never drew up a theological treatise, never took an offering, never wore religious garments, never incorporated for tax purposes… He simply called people to follow him. That’s it. That, despite it’s simplicity is it. He called people to follow him. The first two were brothers: Simon and Andrew. Regular guys, simple fishermen. The first two Christians ever. These brothers didn’t think at all about “becoming Christians” or taking on a new religion. Here was this thirty-year-old-man (a carpenter) who simply said “follow me.” And they believed him. So, in faith, these two brothers gave their lives to him (literally), putting down their familiar nets and following him. Here was the birthplace of a way of life, of a reality that would change the world forever. Before hurrying on with words and centuries of theology, we must pause at the cradle of what we call Christianity. It is never more than Jesus’ call: “Follow me” and a response: dropping familiar nets and following in faith, this sandaled Jewish man. It is never more than that.”"
Why is there more added? Why can’t those that follow Jesus get along with others that follow Jesus instead of dividing it all based upon belief. We can argue methodology all day, but as long as we come together in love there should be no problem. It’s as if there is going to be a gigantic entrance exam administered at the pearly gates…(if so, I’m screwed…I’m not a good test-taker!)
Methodology also seems to cause a great deal of division in the church. There have been times where I have caused division based on methodology, and for that I am sorry and am looking to move in different directions (unity) than to divide. I acknowledge that the seeker movement is doing some tremendous things…I just fear what it is creating in the church (consumer-driven Christians or “Church-to-order”); I acknowledge that traditional Christianity is doing some great things, it’s just not my cup of tea (not a big fan of tradition–I like what Jaroslav Pelikan says “Tradition is the living faith of the dead; traditionalism is the dead faith of the living.”) I acknowledge that the church is making some tremendous strides around the world–but unfortunately it seems to be failing in the U.S. (3,000 Christians walk away from the faith every day, 3,700 churches will close their doors by years end in the U.S. alone) and that’s where my concern lay. I wonder if it is because of the dis-unity in the church?
D.A. Carson, whom I have serious disagreements with but still respect, writes this beautiful point, “we are all creatures of our time, but those from previous generations were not given to condemning their predecesors.” I have been accused from time to time of condeming my predecesors and their methodolgy. Maybe it’s my tone, maybe it’s the way in which I have approached things, but I have never meant to condemn them or their methods–but rather to simply state, ‘they may not be best now, in this time or context.’ I’ve said it before and i’ll say it again, “I’m looking for a fresh expression of Christ in a community of believers.” This is my motivation for change in the church, to get away from ‘canned church’, ‘canned faith’, whatever you want to call it and re-discover the church again, the way Christ meant it to be.
“Why can’t we all just get along?!”
Related posts:
- ::::aaron’s musings::::
- home sweet home
- i’m so disgusted right now
- jesus…is that you?
- the status quo
The Lord is good worship him!
Great info, thanks for the post!