Two Boxes

In essentials, unity;
in non-essentials, liberty;
and in all things charity.

This phrase has been oft-quoted by our Stone-Campbell predecessors and also appears in the historical literature of various other religious affiliations. It is a beautiful expression of what a religious movement would seek to accomplish. In matters of utmost important, we are uncompromising and we stand together. In matters that are not critical to our integrity as a people of Christ, we welcome diversity and embrace freedom. And finally, we are to be, all in all, characterized by love.

However, in the face of the complexities of life, this phrase proves too shallow to be helpful. Why, because religious-minded people have a great deal of difficulty agreeing on what qualifies as essential versus non-essential.

Some folks, in an effort to realize the unity of Christianity, place very little in the essential category, allowing tremendous flexibility with regard to how various teachings of the Bible are interpreted and put into practice. Others, place nearly everything in the essential category allowing for little diversity and flexibility.

Imagine yourself sitting at the end of a conveyor belt. Your job is to sort the religious convictions coming down the line into one of two boxes- the first box is Essential and the second, Non Essential. First thing down the line: The Bible is God's Word and the sole guide for life and religion. OK, that is easy - Essential. Second: Jesus is the only One through whom salvation can be found. Good-another easy one. Third: Church buildings should not have attached kitchens. Ah! Finally, one for the Non Essential box.

I hope you can see that this job would quickly become increasingly difficult. Soon, we would get to those convictions that separate the Church of Christ from the Baptists as opposed to the Presbyterians, etc, etc.

This image of two boxes describes me very well. At this point in my life, most of the convictions have come down the conveyor belt, although, every now and again, a new one comes. My relationships with people outside of C'sofC constantly challenge my boxes. I find myself, occasionally, moving a conviction from one box to the other. For example, at one point in my life, I considered singing a Capella during worship as Essential. Now days, I consider it a wonderful heritage, but Non Essential. I find myself eyeing something way down in the bottom of the Non Essential box: Fasting should be a regular exercise in the Christian's life. I wonder if I should give that one a second thought.

I wonder if others can relate to this analogy?