Categories: uncategorized
Date: 24 April 2007 15:57:30
Occasionally a truth comes your way by the back door, and then smacks you in the face.
Wife and I have been going along for a few months to a little interdenominational group that meets at a local Anglican church on a Sunday night. There's a mix of several people there - a few Anglicans, us semi-Baptists, charismatics, and some who I'd guess were brethren in a former life. We have a very informal service with no pre-written order, pray, worship together and share thoughts with each other.
It's lovely, and it's given us a place of healing. Which was needed.
One of the people there is a Pentecostal fundamentalist. Theologically, I am opposed to everything she stands for, and I cringe when she starts talking about her latest revelation. She is into prosperity; health and wealth; those odd end-times prophecies about Israel; delivering people from spirits of chocolate, and asking God to direct her choice of socks in the morning. Everything that I have spent the last ten years ridiculing, she is.
But... she cares. She really cares. She cares about you, she cares about people in general. She loves God with a passion. And I feel lifted up when she comes into the room, and look forward to speaking to her. She's become a friend. Her commitment has challenged me, and God has often spoken to me through her words.
Outside of this group, some of the people I have got to know over the last few years are those who some in my home church (not the group above) would label, and occasionally demonise, as ‘liberals'. Those backsliders, embarrassed by the gospel, who water down its truth and therefore its challenges. Whose beliefs, however varied, are written off as ‘liberal'.
But... they love God. Just as much as I do. They care. They have opened me up to understanding God in deeper ways, without me needing to jettison my background. Their commitment has challenged me, and God has often spoken to me through them.
Oh look, I see a theme emerging.
Now, I'm not getting all relativistic, and saying ‘well if that's your truth, that's all that counts'. That is an utter cop-out. There is a need to challenge beliefs that are wrong, because if the truth sets you free, it follows that lies and errors bind you up.
All I'm saying is that relationships are far, far more important. And that we shouldn't write people off for what they believe. Which I have spent far too much of my life as a Christian doing. And missed out on all God would have said to me through them.
God says sadly that ‘For want of knowledge, my people perish.' Mistaken beliefs are regrettable.
He says angrily that ‘because they are lukewarm, I will spew them out of my mouth'; to the ones who failed to look after others, ‘Take them out into the darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth'; to those who do not love ‘Whoever does not love has not seen me.' Failure to love, whether to God or man, is abhorrent.
So here's the revelation. It's not remotely original: love is the most important thing.