It is a tendency, I think, for humans to think in reductionist terms. We like things boiled down, simplified, easy. We like things in steps, in simplistic processes. Life, unfortunately, is not that simple. It's a complex matter with shades, variations, vagaries.
When it comes to Christianity, then, people (believers and unbelievers) like to think in simplified terms. "Christianity is a set of doctrines (orthodoxy)." "No, no, Christianity is a moral code (orthopraxy)." "Christianity is a religion." "No it's not; it's a relationship." And we talk as if one nullifies the other or, worse, all the rest.
The source book for Christianity is the Bible. The Bible is not a simple book in the sense of one-dimensional. It is, to coin a term, a "hisstory" book. It is a book about "His Story", the story of God and His work, culminating in Christ, and the ramifications thereof. This book contains doctrines without a doubt. It also contains commands -- imperatives. It contains promises and warnings. It contains propositional statements -- claims to truth. But even as it makes claims to truth, it steps away from the simplified concept of "truth" into an organic concept. Jesus said, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32). He went on to say, "I am ... the truth ..." (John 14:6). So there is truth, and the truth -- ultimate truth -- is not only found in the person of Christ; it is Christ. Remember, "By Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities -- all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together" (Col 1:16-17).
Just as the Bible is not a simple book, neither is Christianity. You don't become a Christian by subscribing to a philosophy or agreeing to simple facts, although you do need to agree with the truth of the Gospel. You don't get saved by following a moral code, although we are commanded to be holy. The Christian life isn't a 12-step process, even though there are processes involved in Christian living. I'm sorry to make it sound so difficult to the reductionist's ears, but Christianity is dynamic. It is orthodoxy and orthopraxy. It is religion and relationship. It is truth that changes how you live. It's not a simple thing. Fortunately, while it is a complex thing, it's not a complicated thing. As Paul puts it, it's a mystery. "To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col 1:27).
No comments:
Post a Comment