I Don’t Want To Change Your Mind

I write my blog to share my views on, mostly, faith.  I want you to think.  I want to make you think twice about how you live out your faith.  I want you to consider how everything you have learned affects you.  I want you to give it some thought.

I don’t want to change your mind.

That doesn’t mean I want you to remain where you are.  What I really don’t care about is whether or not you come around to my way of thinking.

I want you to think things through for yourself.

I want you to get mad at me.

I want you to get mad at things you have believed all of your life.

I want you to hang on to many things you believe.

I want you to know what you believe.

I want you to know why you do what you do.

Most of all, I want you to be uncomfortable enough to consider other views.

If, after you do that, and you change your mind, that’s fine.

I just don’t want to change your mind.

Do you know what you believe?  Do you know why you do what you do?

Are We Guilty Of Tribalism?

There is a certain controversy going on in the denomination my church belongs to.  It doesn’t really matter what it is, because I don’t want to address the specific issue.  What it all boils down to, though, is this.  Certain leaders have signed a document declaring that what some others believe does not square with traditional denominational belief.

In other words, they are saying that a particular group of people are out of step with what the rest of us believe.  It’s a bit fascinating to watch, but my question is this:

Isn’t is enough that we have a denomination?  Do we have to divide out into smaller tribes within this huge denomination?  Do we really have to draw a line that says, “Ok, those of us that believe this way are going to huddle up over here.  The rest of you, huddle up over there.”

I don’t think this is limited to denominations either.

You see it in individual churches.  You have traditional churches.  You have contemporary churches.  Within some churches, you have traditional and contemporary services.  I even know of one church that has a traditional and contemporary service going on at the same time.

Are we becoming guilty of tribalism?  Are we dividing up based on minor differences of belief or preferences, rather than focusing on what unifies us all together?

I know that I have been guilty of this in the past.  I may still be guilty of it to a degree.  However, my focus of late has been more about what draws me together with my fellow brothers and sister in Christ than what might separate us.  I can’t imagine that Jesus is too happy when He looks down at some of the things we do in our churches.

Do you see tribalism going on around you?