This past week I read several blog posts that were born out of an "evangelical renaissance" of sorts. Many evangelical Christians have sought to fight the decline of the traditional Christian church by returning to stringent stances. Groups have been formed, blog wars waged, names called, lines drawn. I will not get into the specifics of the stances these groups espouse, but I have noticed a trend in the communications I've read and heard.
Nearly 100% of what I've read rails against what these groups do not believe. Thousands of words have been typed, countless sermons preached, hundreds of emails exchanged on the topic of what Christians should not believe. The rhetoric is strong, winsome, and backed up with a hodge-podge of Scripture verses yanked from their contexts. Their reach is far, and their message broadcast widely. And, that's all well and good. My intention is not to dismiss the work of these groups entirely, or to call them all flawed or sinful. I am sure that many have been ministered to by these groups, people have been brought to faith, and churches have been started by these groups. I celebrate along with them the places where God's kingdom has been visible on earth through their work. With all of that said, I think that their tactics have an unintended consequence that ought to serve as a warning to the rest of us.
Defining yourself based only on what you do not believe is completely and totally weak. It is unhelpful. It says to anyone who disagrees with you that you have no desire for conversation, understanding, mutual up-building. It claims sovereign rights to what constitutes the truth, and it alienates anyone with a different way of thinking. When a person's credal statement is made up only of what the person does not believe, it is reactionary. The group only exists because of opposition, and without opposition, the group has no staying power.
Take the Apostle Paul as an example. In the lengthy introductions Paul writes in his letters, he quite often begins by sharing his own credentials, beliefs, and points that are important to him. As merely one example, in Romans 1 Paul describes himself as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God. We gain insight into his beliefs regarding the importance of the prophetic writings and Jesus' fulfillment of those prophecies. Paul confesses faith in the death and resurrection of Christ, and also in the call to bring the good news of Jesus to the Gentiles. We read what Paul is for, what he is about, why he is writing, who he is. Yes, Paul later opens up conversations regarding schisms, heresies, and deviations from the Gospel, but this is not his starting point. Paul's faith has staying power. It is not a reactive faith; it is a proactive one. Paul's faith has staying power because it is truth, steadfast and immovable.
Instead, let's define our faith by what we do believe. Let's search the Scriptures, pray, and seek God's guidance. We can and should speak out against things that are unjust, and things that are contrary to God's Word. As it concerns points of doctrine and theology, Christians should have conversations. These are not matters to plaster all over the internet.
A few remaining thoughts in bullet points:
1) Defining yourself in opposition to others is an angry and reactive way to live.
2) Defining yourself in opposition to others makes conversation and reconciliation with those who believe differently impossible.
3) Defining yourself in opposition to others is a sure-fire way to get the other person to stop listening.
4) Defining yourself in opposition to others is grace-less. My beliefs have grown, changed and developed over time. I am ashamed and embarrassed by how quickly I judged others before knowing the foundations of their beliefs...especially now that I believe many of the things I used to condemn.
5) Defining yourself in opposition to others makes everything a battle. As a parent, I know well the importance of choosing my battles. I cannot possibly tackle every little thing my kids do that frustrate me, irritate me, or bother me in some way. There are issues of character that cannot be ignored, values that need to be instilled. But is it worth waging war if my child wants the purple unicorn Pillow Pet rather than something more basic? Should I waste away in anger and bitterness if my children do not share my personal preferences for music, fashion, or hobbies? To be sure, there are battles worth fighting, but for reactionary groups, every difference is a battle to fight.
6) Defining yourself in opposition to others is only possible when you surround yourself with like-minded people who will continually stroke and inflate your ego. I would vastly prefer to accept my brothers and sisters in their differences and be part of a community that may not always agree on every jot and tittle, but comes together in the worship and service of Christ.
7) Defining yourself in opposition to others has no staying power. When the group you oppose ceases to exist, so do you. Think about it. If you exist to oppose others, you cease to exist when the opposition does.
Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" (Matt. 5:9). My prayer is that God would use me as a peacemaker. So many battles that are being waged in the church are over adiaphora (non-essentials), and someone I spoke with today actually said to me, "It is this petty arguing that drove me away from the church altogether." I was heartbroken to hear that, but I know her experience is not alien to many. May God make us - God's children - instruments of peace in this world rather than weapons of war, and may we have the strength to weather our differences. I believe we'll be stronger for it.
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