Agreeing to Disagree

I have been thinking a lot lately about whether or not Christians can disagree with each other and remain united in Christ. I found in my former life that as often as not, if someone did not agree with our stance on a certain issue, we would consider that an attack of the Enemy, rather than an intellectual disagreement or a point of departure for further consideration. Life was a lot easier when I did not have to think.

All of these feelings have come flooding back to me since the passing of Jerry Falwell earlier this week. I made a comment about how I thought Rev. Falwell was a sincere man and loved the Lord, but I don't think he loved many others. The conversation went something like, "Well, what did he say that you disagreed with?" And my response was something to the effect that I did not think that the 9/11 Attack was a result of feminists, gays and lesbians, atheists, etc. The comment that came back was, well, you know, there is a nugget of truth in this. And I said "how do you figure" and was told that since our nation was sinful, or allowed sin to thrive, this meant that God's covering could only last so long and that we could not expect to just go along living like we do or we will be punished. My response to this was that I do not believe God acts that way, and I really don't think most Christians believe that God allows things like this to happen to show us the error of our ways.

Or do we believe this? I mean, I thought we were living in an age of grace and that God gives us the freedom to accept Him or reject Him. I just do not believe I have the right to judge these things since I am a sinner too. As the conversation progressed I asked how God could allow innocent people to be killed because of what other people had done (if, in fact, God allowed this as punishment for gay people in America). The answer was that we really should not get up and say these things since there is no way to prove them one way or the other. Really.

OK, so back to my original question: Is it possible for Christians to take radically opposing views of things like God's judgment, or homosexuality, or the poor, or global warming, or the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, or insert issue . . . and remain brothers and sisters in Christ? In my previous life, the answer would have been an unqualified "No" because anyone who does not follow our interpretation of the Bible is not even a Christian. They are a part of the problem, the secularization of American society. But now, on the other side of the aisle, I have begun to wonder just how Christian it is to judge someone else's faith journey based on my narrow interpretations of what I think God meant in the Bible.

Oh how I wish I could go back to happier, more judgmental times when everything was black and white and everyone else was a sinner except for everyone who believed exactly like me. But, how pleasing is that to God? What would Jesus think?

And, by the way: Tinky Winky is a flamer!

Now That's Commitment

I have always admired the Mormons. You've got to hand it to people who are that committed to their faith. PBS aired this simply amazing Frontline documentary on the Mormons this past week that took a long look at Joseph Smith and the complete history of the LDS Church. It pulled no punches, but was an honest look at the sometimes weird, always moving Mormon faith. Now, don't get me wrong, I do not think Mormon doctrine is correct, and people committed to a lie are simply committed to the wind. But therein lies my greatest concern: How can people be so utterly committed to something that is not true and how can we who have the truth be so lackadaisical about it?

Here are some things I have gleaned from the Mormons that could help Christians:

First, Mormons are so committed to their faith that they defend even the wacky things that the early Mormons did (plural marriages, for instance) and fully believe that this was a part of God's progressive revelation to them and their prophets. Mormons believe God still speaks to them today. Sometimes I wonder if Christians truly believe this anymore.

Second, Mormons believe their doctrine and want the world to believe it too. In fact, they believe it so strongly they baptize the dead so that everyone can have the opportunity to go to heaven. I think most Christian groups are so busy competing against each other that they could never work together. And Mormons are just interested in the immortal souls of all people. How ashamed should we be?

I really don't think most Christians are as committed to their doctrine as Mormons are. I mean, take a look at the American Episcopal Church, for instance. The Anglican Communion is about to excommunicate the Episcopal Church for ordaining homosexuals and blessing same-sex marriages. The Communion has given their American branch until September to make things right, come back to Biblical Christianity, or be demoted to a lower rung on the episcopal hierarchy. Mormons do not even consider the possibility of accepting homosexuals because they see this as an affront to the family, which is the center of Mormon belief. They excommunicate them immediately upon coming out of the closet. Whether it is right or not, Mormons have a standard that they believe God wants all people to live up to. Now, I am not here to debate whether or not homosexuality is evil or a disorder or a perfectly legitimate lifestyle choice, but it concerns me that Christian groups throughout history have been all too eager to major on minor issues rather than calling for repentance and forgiveness. I do believe that we should be able to ask the hard questions, and I have asked them over and over, but in the end we have to have a standard that we all believe to be true.

Third, Mormons commit their children to winning the world. When Mormons are very young they are given a mission and they prepare the rest of their young life to go into service of the church. What would happen if Christians expected this much of their young people? Where would the Church be if we cared enough about the world to make it mandatory to go on a mission? Oddly enough, the first Christian missionary ever gave his disciples the command "Go into all the world." It is amazing how good we become at justifying our lack of zeal and we have the truth. We leave the work to missionaries and those living in Africa and Latin America where they really need faith to survive. God help us that we no longer need faith to survive in the Western world, a society founded on faith!

I have begun to realize that the worst threat to the Church may not be Satan but the Church herself. The Church has a way of justifying apathy, and God knows I have justified mine, but I pray that we can become as committed to our mission as Mormons are to theirs. Work while it is day. The night is coming when no one can work.