Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.” vs. 11
John 14:8-11
Through the centuries Christians have put a lot of energy into figuring out how Jesus could be human and divine at the same time. Early on scholars, borrowing heavily from Greek philosophy, managed to cobble together some credal statements that have proved amazingly resilient. When some believers disagreed they were quickly excommunicated, and folks learned to keep their mouths shut if they wanted to stay in the Church. Faith was connected to proper beliefs and not the way of love–which was exactly contrary to the teachings of Jesus. He didn’t insist on proper belief, even in the question of his relationship to the Father. He seems to have known that insisting on correct doctrines could be a huge stumbling block in the continuation of his mission. Jesus was all about the coming kingdom of God, a peaceable kingdom in which people of all stripes loved and cared for each other without conditions. In recent years, some believers have come to embrace his vision and focus on ways of love that draw them together, rather than points of doctrine that drive them to separate. If that movement continues to grow there is a real possibility that the peaceable kingdom of Jesus’ dreams could become the dominant experience of all Christians!
Thought for the Day: What traditional doctrines have I discarded?
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