Soft Edges, Hard Center

What has soft edges and a hard center?

The answer should be: Christians.

But for some reason, there seems to be a huge divide forming between a few distinct, gospel-believing denominations and schools of theology.

It’s either my way or… you’re stupid.

And that’s okay when it comes to:

Jesus dying on the cross to pay for your sins as an atonement for your eternal damnation because you couldn’t.

I’m not implying anyone is stupid; I’m just saying that Christians all believe this. All denominations believe this. It’s an easy place for us to come together because all sides of the rift agree on this.

What I see happening (and maybe it’s always been there, and I’m just now noticing it) is a tribalism effect. Our tribe is better than your tribe, and in essence, our way is better than your way, our gospel is better than your gospel, therefore… we are better than you.

Can we just stop? It’s a really bad look. I lean a little reformed in my theology, and I’m almost embarrassed to say that lately because of how ‘my tribe’ is starting to treat people (and I can say that for a lot of tribes). There is an air of: “You are either exactly like us, or you are not a Christian,” and I don’t get that. I love my lean-a-little-Pentecostal people, I love my lean-a-little-Anglican people, I love my lean-a-little-Arminian people, etc. We have things like baptism, communion, healing, evangelism tactics that are all different, but they are on the edges of what we believe; they are not the center.

Have you seen creation? The Lord is an incredibly diverse creator and loves variety. He created emotions and loves them. Apparently, some of the tribes aren’t allowed to be emotional because you’re supposed to be academic, and some aren’t allowed to be academic because the tribe is ruled by feelings. It’s strange to me because He created academic types of thinking (logic, sound mind, reason) AND He created emotions (for reference, see King David’s emotional rants in the Old Testament and Peter’s flailing about in the New Testament. Both were greatly used by God).

I’ve seen firsthand the destruction this tribalism causes. It’s not the gospel at all. Instead, it’s a cult-like, destructive version of a religion.

Yes, the gospel is exclusionary; by nature, it has to be. But like Jesus, it should have soft edges to allow for the variety and differences in people, and a hard center. He welcomed Zacchaeus, He spoke with the woman at the well, He honored the mama who brought her measly two pennies, He sat with sinners… He was in relationship with people who were not like Him.

The center is the gospel. We should not budge on the gospel. Ever.

But can we start making room for each other’s preferences and SECONDARY theological beliefs and differences?

Let’s not budge on the gospel, together, as one tribe. But let’s just have friendly debates about our differences—for FUN.

Not everyone has to be exactly like you in order for something to be true.