A Process to Find Common Ground in the Christian Community
Like our United States political parties, the Christian Church is fractured. Over the last several decades, Christian denominations and groups have become even more hostile toward one another. Christians in different groups have never agreed and, at times, have been quite offensive, but presently there is less willingness to communicate and more willingness to condemn. Churches and denominations have created fault lines that seem beyond meaningful agreement.
It is fair to ask, so what? Why bother trying to unify with other Christian groups when there is so much disrespect? I must ask these simple questions of myself because I question whether trying to find common ground with people whose form of Christianity I find distasteful is worth the effort. I will never understand or affirm people, in the name of Christ, who affirm a corrupt form of Christian Nationalism. I cannot fathom people who can affirm a loving God and deny immigrants and the LGBTQIA+ communities basic human rights. How can Christians proclaim God's divine grace and mercy while condemning people for not having enough faith to be eternally forgiven by a loving God? The narcissistic arrogance makes me angry and despairing. My list of concerns could continue for pages.
Yet, as a person of faith, I must remember that "all things are possible with God." If I am not willing to keep the door to reconciliation open, then I am also exclusive and overly judgmental, as the groups I am describing. I am not responsible for fixing others' beliefs. That is God's responsibility. You and I are called to leave the pathway to respectful discussion available, so there is room for God to do the divine work in our lives.
We can assist God by getting our own spiritual house in order. We do that by contemplating the difference between Essential and Incidental in our belief system. What is essential to my faith? What, if taken away, would no longer make me a follower of our Triune God? For example, I could not personally join a church that did not affirm belief in the One God, the Parent, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I could not be part of a religious tradition that believed that some human beings are less worthy of God’s love than other persons. Those are just two examples; I ask you to reflect on and write down your faith essentials.
Next, we must determine what is incidental. Incidental does not mean it is meaningless. Instead, the incidental includes areas of faith or ethics we may not agree on, but they will not separate us from others. For example, ethically, while I have my understanding of the abortion issue, I understand different beliefs on abortion and am willing to be part of a faith family with those on all sides of the issue. Another example of my incidentals is worship. My worship life feels most comfortable with traditional Presbyterian worship. That does not mean I do not appreciate "contemporary worship" with a band and more flexible liturgical forms. In my previous congregation, we had a traditional and a contemporary service, and I played guitar in the latter. The sermon featured visuals on the screen and occasional dramatic skits. More flexible worship experiences do not cause me to question the foundation of my faith or others' faith.
Now, it is your turn. Write down your faith essentials and incidentals. Once you have written them down, question why they are vital or not to faith in our Triune God. Then, consider what other groups or denominations' essentials and incidentals might be. If you do not have direct experience with other traditions, find someone you feel safe talking to, and hear their faith experiences and listen to their essentials and incidentals. Finding common (holy) ground is possible only when we learn more about each other and affirm the essentials we share. Allowing disagreement on the incidentals may help us continue discussing the essentials that cause us to diminish each other.
Finding common ground is vital because most of us have friends and family who do not share our religious beliefs, and being open helps keep relationships healthy. Even more importantly, God loves all of us because we are the divine Parent's children. God calls us "to love one another." Love does not mean acquiescing to the loudest, most judgmental voice in the room. Love means setting clear boundaries, so all can share in a safe environment. I pray that we can all find a way to discuss each other's essentials and incidentals, so that the Christian Church can live together, supporting one another amid our differences.