What is essential to our faith?
During this pandemic, debate is ongoing in our country about whether having an unlimited number at in-person worship services is essential to our faith.
Some argue it is a right guaranteed by the First Amendment. Others say the best way to show the love of God during this time is to wait till we know it is safe. A few churches started in-person worship services too soon, saw members contract COVID-19 and had to cease in-person worship.
Personally, I have chosen to follow the recommendations of the Center for Disease Control, state and local authorities, and my Bishop. As bad as I want to have a sanctuary full of people worshiping together, I do not want to put anyone at risk.
Just a few more weeks and hopefully we will be in Phase Three, take the necessary precautions and go back to church.
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
In many ways, Christians have returned to their roots, worshiping in homes and adapting all while being true to their faith. We are still living out our faith, even while staying at home. It is encouraging to see our faith communities offering worship services online through YouTube, Facebook, using FM frequencies and drive-in worship.
What is essential to our faith? One essential to faith is belief in spiritual beings. Others are public rituals, social institutions and shared creeds. Unfortunately – throughout history – Christians could not agreed on the essentials of faith and often fought with deadly results.
The Thirty Years War – a religious war between Protestant and Catholics, that enveloped European powers in a struggle for dominance – killed over eight million people.
During this time, Peter Meierlin – a Protestant theologian – wrote a pamphlet calling for Christian unity. In it, he coined a famous phrase: “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; and in all things, charity.”
This saying found great acceptance among Christians, influencing many. One was the Rev. John Wesley, who preached a sermon on 2 Kings 10:15. This is where Jehu spoke to Jehonadab and said to him, “Is your heart as true to mine as mine is to yours?” Jehonadab answered, “It is.” Jehu said, “If it is, give me your hand.”
Wesley wrote, “If it be, give me your hand.” I do not mean, “Be of my opinion.” You need not. Keep your opinion and I will keep mine. I do not desire you to dispute those points, or to hear or speak one word concerning them. Leave all opinions alone on one side and the other: only “give me your hand.”
What is essential to our faith? For me, it is belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and steadfast love for God and neighbor. Essentials will be different for people of other faiths.
Eric Reece is the faith columnist for The Graham Star. He is the pastor of Robbinsville United Methodist Church.