BLOGGING TOWARD SUNDAY…

Point Five:  By calling ourselves progressive, we mean that we are Christians who know that the way we behave toward one another and toward other people is the fullest expression of what we believe.

Jesus believed that the most important commandment is to “love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself.”  It seems to me that Jesus was saying that he puts behavior before belief, especially when “belief” is understood as correct doctrine.

In my own congregation, there is so much difference in personal beliefs, it makes me wonder how we can all claim the name “United Methodist” and be so different.  When, in Disciple Bible Study, I ask my students to list all the things they believe to be true about Jesus, and the differences in the lists are nothing short of amazing!

Leslie Weatherhead, my own hero of heroes, said it like this:  If Christ can, and he does, hold in utter loyalty the hearts of St. Francis and John Knox, of Calvin and St. Theresa, of General Booth and Pope John, of Billy Graham and Albert Schweitzer, who hold irreconcilably different beliefs about him, how can belief and uniformity of belief be vitally important?

The essential in Christianity is loving Christ and one another.   Progressive Christians believe that our actions of love are more important than the expressions of our beliefs.  Indeed, they are the acid test.

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