God has been working in incredible ways in my life the past two weeks on what I’m sharing below. Some of it may be incomplete, and I fear that part of it may be judgmental. I’m think I’m beginning to learn that conviction and truth are often best shared in relationship…where then we can say to one another I’m sharing this truth with you in love. I’ll share more soon the journey lately that’s brought me to write this here.
I’ve been reading a book lately called The Shack of which I have thoroughly enjoyed. Actually, enjoyed isn’t really a good word to use. I’ve loved how the author has caused me to think and ask some deep questions to Jesus right now in all that I’m dealing with. I’ve fallen in love with diving into Scripture this summer, and I’m amazed at how much I want to know my creator that much more personally as I do! And this book has been an amazing perspective for me on what our relationship with God is to look like. Sure enough, some of what the author writes has caused me to open my Bible a few times. And just out of curiousity, I wanted to see what other Christian leaders had to say about some of the implied theology in the book. And to be honest, I’m somewhat disappointed. Not disappointed that others want to review the book, but how bitter towards each other as Christans we are.
Quite a few years back, I became part of an amazing movement at Michigan Tech called Campus Crusade for Christ. I’ve loved how God has used the community and outreach there to draw me into such a deep relationship with Him. And yet I can remember years ago where discussions between a few of the leaders often consisted of openly criticizing other ministries on campus, constantly comparing ours to theirs. In our arrogance, we thought we were better than they. I’m sad to admit I was definitely a part of that. I think this issue hits me “at home” so much because I have been and continue to be a part of it. I judge so often more than I love.
Truth is very important, and Paul definitely does warn of false doctrine. But he also warns of divisions in the church! Do a search on the internet sometime about some topic in theology, and I think you’ll find how bitter and divided we are! I sometimes want to just crawl up and hide because I don’t know how to handle our bitterness anymore. I think we — almost everyone including me — so often are apt to judge rather than love. Sure, it is important to sharpen one another in love. And that sharpening and truth isn’t always easy to give or receive. Yet I feel like so often we’d rather continue dividing and shouting “truth” at each other instead of choosing to walk with one another in Christ and in love even when we may disagree. We so often would rather surround ourselves with people that agree with us rather than be challenged by others with different perspectives that can cause us to grow if we are open to truth.
Jesus said to the Jews in John 5:39,40, “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” I sometimes wonder if we in America aren’t very similar to the people he was talking to here. We shout scripture and theology at each other calling each other heretics when we ourselves don’t apply what we preach. We disregard the testimony of others, immediately assuming because it doesn’t fit into our box of experiences or understanding that it can’t be true. I wonder if sometimes the reason we so sharply “disagree” with one another has more to do with our pride than our desire to discover and understand what is real! I wonder if we were open to allow Jesus to bring life and understanding to every part of our lives and our study of the Bible, we would come to the same understanding of truth. I doubt anyone has a perfect understanding of theology. Yet there definitely are those who have incredible insight and wisdom into what relationship with our God looks like. In an age where personal discipleship within our churches is sadly rare, it has been incredibly refreshing for me to read from others like Piper, Eldredge, C.S. Lewis, “Brother Yun”, Rolland and Heidi Baker, and now the author of The Shack. I believe each one of these men and women have a passion for truth and love God!
Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could truly unite as the one body of Christ in spite of our differences! Instead of immediately polarizing with people that are “too liberal” or “too conservative”, we would learn to stick together in love. With God living in us and us in Him, we can see the beauty of everyone created in His image and share freeing and life-giving truth with one another in love.
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” …”Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgement, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” — I John 5:7-8, 16-18
I love these guys (Yellowstone Summer Project). We all reached the top of this Montana summit at 10,154 feet after lots of encouragement and sticking it out together!
