|
Don't Fear Labels, Trust the Spirit?
The dictionary defines fear as "an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat." In our country today, the power of fear is being used to feed our religious and political perspectives as well as to instruct us on how we should relate to those who think differently.
There are some Christian leaders who fear God's judgment if they become part of a common table with others who are labeled as unfaithful, unbiblical or simply heretics. Others resist to developing relationships with those they consider fundamentalist, ignorant and out of touch with human reality. Others refuse to work together with those who in the past were oppressors; they find hard to believe that the oppressor's hearts can be transformed.
As I seek to build bridges between the different (normally opposed) theological camps in American Christianity, one poignant question constantly surfaces: If Jesus were bodily present today, to which ecumenical organization (if any) will he associate? To the National Association of Evangelicals, to Christian Churches Together or to the National Council of Churches? Which one do you think? Why?
Would Jesus make a decision to whom would he relate based on fear? If the gospels shed any light on who will Jesus seek to relate, most of us will be very uncomfortable with the truth. That is because Jesus had fellowship mostly with those who had been labeled by someone else.
Too often we conduct our lives, make decisions and establish relationships based on fear. In doing so, I believe we limit the redeeming power of the gospel. If as a follower of Christ, I have placed all my trust and confidence in him, how can I fear someone who confesses allegiance to Christ? How could I reject and deny the opportunity for dialogue and fellowship to someone who would look straight at my eyes and says to me "I love you in the love of Christ"?
Someone has said that we should always put our fears behind us, and our dreams in front of us. The scriptures never call us to fear, we are rather called to love. "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear." (1 John 4:8) The Holy Spirit is recruiting men and women who are not afraid of loving like Christ. The Spirit is not recruiting them to be merely participants in a "pure" and "faithful" ecumenical organization; the Spirit needs them (us) to build the beloved community. This is what I believe CCT is all about.
Rev. Carlos L. Malavé
Executive Director
| 
