A friend asked me, “Why does it matter what we believe? Isn’t being good enough?” His query did not involve multiple denominations. I did not have to defend Christianity against any other popular belief system. He wanted to know why it was important that Christians question their own beliefs. Why should I examine mine? Disturbing the status quo would only bring dissension. Instead, agree to disagree. That is a better philosophy. It keeps the peace, and we need peace.
I used to believe that as truth, and I hated hearing biblical arguments that I could not follow. People inserted obscure references, big churchy words, and expressed lots of anger. Each side quoted old-brother-so-and-so as if that name made their theology correct. However, the arguments never came to any reasonable conclusion. They bounced off deaf ears. Worse, once the heated discussion ended, the backbiting began. Those kinds of responses made me think that neither side knew what they were talking about.
Yet the arguments intrigued me. I wanted to understand why Christianity had no agreement. Jesus prayed for unity. God said His ways were simple enough for common men to teach their children.
Simple was not what I heard.
The more I studied, the more disunity I found. The history of Christianity overflowed with distrust and rejection of each other. Differing beliefs rarely lived peaceably together for long. Teachers stirred up righteous indignation, which gave reason for the dominant group to repress or eliminate the competition. To them, the end justified the means. Christians killed Christians by word and by sword.
That is an excellent reason to question my fellow Christian’s beliefs and my own. The means did not justify the end. It only justified hatred.
The “agree to disagree” option lets peace exist between brothers. However, it is also the choice to remain blind and deaf. Brothers become enemies when they build walls. We need to realize that “agreeing to disagree” is simply the first step in the process to understand and to grow. Respect for the other person and their beliefs must remain strong enough to keep listening.
I had to choose to hear and see the other side of the argument. That let me stop arguing a point long enough to ask, “What truth does this person see that I don’t?” And, let me tell you, it was always difficult to ponder a theology that disturbed my orthodoxy. Yet, that is the only way I found to get to the root of the argument. I had to question my beliefs alongside other people’s beliefs. The possibility exists that the opposite side might be correct, at least in part.
That excruciating exercise gave an unconventional conclusion. The biggest problem in Christianity is that every denomination only knows partial truth.
We know we have the truth. However, we shroud it in traditions, as if they complete that exquisite gem. Denominations segregate themselves by the rituals upheld as holy, even though those rituals do not make anyone righteous. We argue over theologies of men instead of discussing the wondrous ways of God.
I found that answer in the story of the Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus shocked her by just talking to her. He did not condemn her existence, nor did he list the reasons the Samaritans were wrong. Instead, Jesus treated her with dignity and admitted those old enemy-brothers of the Jews had partial truth. He then insinuated that the Jews did not comprehend the full truth God gave them.
The Jews had the full truth but rejected it for a burdensome theology.
Christianity does the same thing. We proudly proclaim that we have the truth, yet we preach the same old burdensome theology of traditions that insults our neighbors. Those structures will fall, just like the Temple in Jerusalem.
Arrogant ignorance frustrates God. We insist our ways are the right way and tell him how and what we are to believe. Then, we respond to correction with righteous indignation.
Does that mean all our traditions and rituals are meaningless? Is God always mad at us for not knowing His truth?
Don’t panic. God can work with ignorance that is willing to learn. He can teach us to recognize the teachings of men. Our Father will show us how to utilize our rituals and traditions properly without misrepresenting their insignificance. He became one of us to demonstrate how his relationship with us makes us holy.
All the religious trappings fade in comparison to that relationship. Instead of our differences shouting division, our distinctions will proclaim our unique devotion to our Creator.
Making God happy is an excellent reason to question established beliefs.
