Today’s meditation is by my friend Chris Brekke (posted May 14, 2024). Chris is also a retired pastor and also does a daily blog on WordPress. We were in seminary at about the same time, we are on the same wave-length in many ways, and we appreciate each other’s work. Chris posts a devotional reading three times a week at:
http://www.pcbrek2020.wordpress.com
You can scroll down there and read some of his past blogs, and if interested, you can subscribe to “Seasoned Hope” just like you subscribed to “Emailmeditations.”
*************************************************
I am in a men’s Bible study that meets every Monday morning. We do it on zoom. A dozen or so guys come. The structure is simple: we read one chapter of the New Testament, and we take an hour to talk it over. We have lots of salutary faith conversation. Currently we are in I Corinthians. That letter of Paul to a congregation that was dealing with lots of issues is so relevant, even now 1900 years later! It brims with valuable counsel on many matters of Christian freedom and ethics. (e.g. sex, money, factions, worship styles, morality). As you would suspect, such issues can be thorny. The Bible -(contrary perhaps to how non-church folk see it)- is light on hard and fast rules. It is not a manual of rules and regulations telling you exactly and theoretically how you should live. (Usually.) It is real-world live-action encouragement and teaching on being a person of faith in the world.
One of the guys in our group suggested that when an issue is underway, you have to calculate: is this a matter to Die For?… or to Divide Over?…. or to Discuss? 3D. I like that sorting mechanism. You think about the importance of a particular issue, and you make your judgment. Whether the subject is sexual ethics or the sacraments or paying the clergy… is your position on it to Die For (No compromising!)… or perhaps: to Divide Over (you’ll go find another church)…. or would it be a matter you’re willing to Discuss? That’s what was going on in Corinth. This new congregation was bringing in people of various backgrounds. They had different priorities and values. Die for? Divide? Discuss?
As one example, I Corinthians 11:2-16 is about the role of women in the church. Read with 21st century eyes, most Western people would hate this text! It is not liberated; it’s patriarchal. The percentage of Christians today who take this literally -(and have their women cover their heads in worship)- is smaller than tiny. We don’t “Die For” nor “Divide Over” this today. We discuss it, and try to understand why it fit the 1st century; and what the overarching truth of it is. (It’s about reverence in worship, and about cultural accommodation for the sake of the Gospel). We understand that some of the Bible is “Timeless Principles” and some of it is “Timely Particulars.” We allow graciously for Christian freedom in many matters of Christian living.
Though this is a huge topic -(that theological books are written about)- allow me to offer another “3D” interpretive framework that may assist here. Christians distinguish between “Dogma” (a fixed belief that people are to accept as essential)…” Doctrine”(beliefs taught and accepted by a particular group)… and “Diddly.” The Dogma must remain; we “Die For” it. (e.g. Jesus is Lord). The Doctrine is important, and we may “Divide Over” it. (e.g. Lutherans baptize infants. Some others do not). The Diddly is small potatoes, and we can “Discuss” it amiably. (e.g. How to dress in worship). You can picture this as concentric circles, going out from core Dogma to peripheral Diddly. The Dogma makes you Christian or not; the Doctrine makes you a particular denomination of Christian; The Diddly is unimportant.
******************************************
Psalm 86:11-13 — Teach me thy way, O Lord, that I may walk in thy truth; unite my heart to fear thy name. I give thanks to thee, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify thy name for ever. For great is thy steadfast love toward me; thou hast delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
******************************************
Praise and thanks and adoration, Son of God, to you we give, for you chose to serve creation, died that Adam’s heirs might live. Dear Lord Jesus, guide my way; faithful let me day to day follow where your steps are leading, and find adventure, joys exceeding. So may it be. Amen.
Related Posts
