And we probably never will.
What is this thing we still haven't figured out in such a grand scope of time? An effective, universally accepted method for following after Jesus. I'm talking about doctrine here. Yes, I know, half of you just fell asleep. If you're near one of them sleepy types, just poke them a couple of times. Or don't, I'll leave that call up to you.
Sure, doctrine can come across as being a bit boring. However, I think it's a topic we need to start paying a lot more attention to, particularly if we find ourselves in that fantastically vague group known as "young people." So, if (based on Grandma O'Dell's definition) you're between the ages of 12 and 50, I especially recommend that you keep reading.
The debate over doctrine is nothing new. We've been having arguments about how to follow well after Jesus since the events of the Book of Acts, and it's kept going right up to the modern day. Why has this debate persisted? Because these debates will always persist, in any field, as long as humans are the ones left in charge of running the discussion. Even realms which claim ubiquitous uniformity can't truly make this claim, as "that guy" is always yelling for a different way of doing things, no matter how fringe they may be. Patterns of common practice assert themselves, but total acceptance of one system seems to be impossible, based on my examination.
So why even talk about doctrine? Why frustrate ourselves with a discussion on something that we probably know will never really get anywhere?
Whether we want to our not, this is a particularly necessary conversation for Christianity, because we claim to hold knowledge of something beyond this world. We're dealing with things of eternity, and it's extremely dangerous when we don't agree on something. It makes people doubt that a faith which claims to know the Truth about what happens after we die, and works to explain what happens until we do, actually knows what it's talking about.
A lot of you are probably expecting me to start talking about hell right now. This has been a fairly hot button issue within Western Christianity ever since Rob Bell's "Love Wins" was published. Since then, the idea of hell seems to be something a great many people are interested in. I'm not going to deal with that now, however. That is a discussion I'm still reading the literature on, and thus I don't feel ready to comment. I think there's something in Proverbs to support that, here's to hoping.
Also, I don't think it would be productive to add yet another voice to that particular conversation. I think certain theological issues can be a bit trendy. They get a lot of press for a while, and then die down and we stop thinking about them. Take, par exemple, the issue of whether or not the Holy Spirit is still active in the modern day. Outside of Pentecostal circles, this doesn't get discussed very often anymore. And yet, it is a crucial topic to think on if we're going to follow after God well.
Question; do you think God can miraculously heal people? I mean something along the lines of someone prays and then a person is no longer afflicted by a disease or injury. My answer? Yes. I've seen it happen. Others don't believe this to be the case. They feel that the Holy Spirit stopped working in that way when the original apostles died off. I just made the apostles sound like they were dinosaurs. Anywho. What we think about this point dramatically impacts how we follow God. Chiefly, it governs how we try to love this world, as we are called to do. I believe God can use me to love the world by physically healing it's ailments. Others don't, and I think they're missing out on something.
So what should I do with these people I don't agree with? According to what I see some Christ followers doing, I should actively work to discredit them at every opportunity, be it from the pulpit, at a press conference, even right here on this blog. Let me be clear. This. Is. Stupid. Petty infighting amongst Christians distracts immensely from what our work should be; loving this world and seeking to bring every person into a relationship with Christ. That's all I'm going to say on that particular issue, as I don't want to fall into the very trap I just told myself to avoid.
What do we do, then? We learn how to disagree well, and encourage each other towards the True truth about following Christ.
Yes, I believe the Holy Spirit can do amazing things, and I'm going to encourage others to believe the same, because otherwise I don't think I really believe in what I'm saying. As I encourage people towards that belief, however, I am going to be praying for all the gentleness God can give me. It was said of Jesus that "a bruised reed He will not break." That is the kind of gentleness I hope for, as I encourage others towards what I believe to be properly following after Christ. This is a calling we all need to embrace. In matters of doctrine, we cannot exclude fellow Christ followers from the numbers of those we unconditionally love before all else. We're never going to convince each other of anything, and we're certainly going to bring people to Christ, by way of a yelling match.
With His love and grace,
Taylor
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