Why do Christians love to debate theology? Whey do we get so hung up on differences in philosophy, belief and approach? I feel safe saying that most Christians, and Christian institutions, have pretty much the same core set of beliefs and values. Instead of focusing on those core beliefs, we spend way too much time fighting battles on the fringes, debating in the gray areas, getting hung up on differences in opinion and interpretation.

I had the opportunity recently to spend some extended time with a group of highly passionate Christians. Over the course of two days, I witnessed debates on whether a poster was art or pornography and whether meditation was good or evil, among other things. It seemed that everyone had formed a deeply rooted system of beliefs and perspectives, and as a result, they had trouble keeping their minds open to other points of view. Unfortunately, I think we do that a lot as Christians. The challenge is that we can quickly slide into legalism and judgement and alienate people who aren’t ready or able to adhere to the same set of values that we have. The real problem is that in most cases, it’s not central theology at the heart of the debate. It’s on the fringes. I believe God provided us with a multitude of options in this world to do life and to be in relationship with Him.  I also believe that while the Bible is very clear on the core beliefs we are to have as Christians, it holds quite a bit of gray on a host of other topics. Just because we have settled on one of the translations for some of these gray matters doesn’t mean we are right and all others are wrong.

I recently stumbled upon an interesting book in the bargain bin at the bookstore.  Self-proclaimed agnostic author AJ Jacobs wrote  The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible a few years ago. In it, he journaled about his quest to follow each and every instruction in the Bible for a full year. I haven’t read the book, only the jacket. I’m sure parts are funny and parts are offensive.  I didn’t buy it to find out.

But it did get me thinking. Is that what most people view it to be like? You receive a Bible, and then you have to try to literally abide by all the rules within it? That isn’t very inviting, and it’s not very realistic either. It’s not attractive or attainable. Or appropriate if you ask me.  I would encourage us all to open our minds a bit and to be more accepting of differing opinions and approaches to issues that are outside the core. Baskin Robins serves 31 flavors of ice cream. But it’s all ice cream, with a consistent core. Most of them are deliciously different from one another. That’s how we should look at living a holy life.  There is a base, a common set of elements that make you a Christian. And then there’s the rest of it. I’m just not so sure it’s smart for us to deeply form opinions on the fringes and allow that to dictate both the way we live as well as the way we view other people.