Your Right and I'm Wrong

As what happens often after church, there is refreshments and we have a college and careers meal afterwards. Its a time of fellowship and good cheer generally. It is also a time when some of the people engage in theological discussions, as it seems half the young people are in or where in philosophy or theology for their education.

On its own, it is a good thing people like to talk about and discuss these things. Certainly these types of discussions are good to have, but I find that they can never dangerous and unhelpful as well. What I mean is that while understanding more about the nature of God and how we relate and so forth is important to living more fully in Christ, the danger also exists that it prevents truly absorbing and living scripture in your day to day interactions as one tries to find the truly "absolute" truth of God and existence. To expand on what I am saying, a rather pedant view of the world can take hold if one believes only their perspective on theology is the "right" path to knowing God, instead of leaving open the possibility that parts of what we believe about God and the nature of existence could be incorrect or at least deviate partially from the actual truth. Otherwise  the case develops where only a very select few are privy to the pure truth, and other viewpoints border on or are heretical.

I should make clear is that the people I am talking about are Orthodox Christians, in that they believe in all the basic tenets of Christianity but differ on some of the more esoteric points of doctrine and such. I think the nature of Man's fall means that we are not perfect and probably cannot know all their is to know about God and the universe, but that we can still be saved regardless. So in one sense knowing about such discussions  in depth does not help us get saved, making ourselves into disciplines of Christ does. That is why I think that is why the difference between Catholics and Protestants is both important and immaterial to the task at hand, as believers of both sides are all spiritual body to Christ first and foremost. The way a Catholic and a Protestant (realizing both definitions of themselves are problematic) are expected to live their life is quite similar considering the doctrinal differences. The problems are people's individual life choices, not doctrine that is normally the problem.

The salient point is really that actions are the true mark of faith and one should focus on living as Christ did rather than trying to understanding completely the mystery of Christ. Whether or not works help in salvation or not, I think its undeniable that works mold us and mark us as pots of God's desire, as Paul alludes to in Romans 9. In Romans as well Paul describes the "marks of a True Christian", which I think helps but into focus the fact that true Christians can be seen, and that the differences in belief must be minor if two people both display these signs, signs that are lived and expressed to others in thought and deed.

"9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, [7] serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. [8] Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it [9] to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:1-21)

What Paul is saying to us is a call to action and so rather I think a renewed focus upon being of Christ rather than merely thinking of Christ is in order. Otherwise we waste time trying to be "right" rather than being as righteous and holy as possible.

P.S. Check out (Romans 14: 1-4) as well, it is really a very concise and powerful summary of my whole point above.