Not Doctrine but Compassion

It’s NOT about DOCTRINE; It IS about COMPASSION!

The movement of Christ followers was once called The Way, in some circles. My impression is that these were folks who had known Jesus, had seen his life, been touched by his ministry and sought to follow in his way of love, compassion, justice, inclusiveness, and peace. Then the group grew large enough that it became more established and became “The Church.” People and leaders quickly began posturing and defining. The posturing is for influence and control ("church politics"); and the defining was to determine what are the acceptable and not acceptable beliefs and tenets of faith (doctrine). Once the Church became established as the official religion by a government, it was like giving a shot of steroids to an athlete. Now the battles for control of the organization and control of people’s thoughts and beliefs took on more urgency. Lines were drawn. Some people were declared to be “In” and others were “Out.” Some doctrines were declared "wrong" or heretical. Those people, no matter how they might have tried to be faithful to their understanding of Jesus, were ostracized or, worse, tortured and killed. And all "in the name of Christ." 

So, IF your doctrine is to help YOU understand what you believe so that you can follow the WAY of CHRIST more faithfully, the way of COMPASSION, of “Love your neighbor,” and “love your enemy,” and “do unto the least of these” . . . then I would honor and celebrate what you believe, even if it is different from what I might believe. But IF your doctrine is to define you as RIGHT and others as WRONG, if it identifies you as SAVED while others are DAMNED, if it creates a wall that separates you from “heretics” or “infidels,” . . .  well, please know that I will gladly stand on the side of the heretics, and will continue to seek to live (imperfectly, perhaps) in a compassionate, Christ-like manner and will love you in so far as you will allow me to.