The Bible is clear in its warning: do not add to or subtract from the Word of God. This clarion call has sent the religious world a-spinning. True, some in the Christian realm have no interest in operating from the Bible. They have traditions, are bent on them, and promote them without blush as to the Bible's disregard.
But fundamentalists care in the name of the Word about the Word. The result is an embarrassing and splintering quagmire of push and pull. Argument, debate, and division have set up shop in the names of Methodists, Quakers, Baptists, Catholics, Church of Christ...on and on the list goes.
How do we do faith and can we do faith while clearly different; yet in perfect harmony? I think the Word answers that. Hands aren't feet and interpret no task from the same concern nor skill. The Eyes Church regards scenes while the Ears Church responds to noise. Faith's complete formation is allowed when the body parts are free to interpret those areas they are called.
Adding or subtracting is a Bible concern. As the Elbow Church must allow the Knee Church grace to operate in the overall body, we must not be so quick to yell Foul! because some are different.
When the great commission says to go into all of the world, are we subtracting from the Word when the most of the disciples never go into 1/8 of the world? Did Paul subtract from the Word when he called for a putting away of childish things when Jesus urged we become like children?
From experience I believe the rudimentary structure of Christianity has divided over adding or subtracting from man's tradition more than violating the Word. Man's tradition is a clear violation of the Word and from this we denominations give it the smug shrug and continue our discourse as to why we have biblical reason to refuse to function as one faith body.
Heaven help us. I mean....heaven help us....for we can't do spiritual life without it. The entire lifestyle of Jesus seems so much more simple than my hop-skip-and jump interpretations. Jesus remains the only one who can set us free to the free indeed extent. May we grow in experiencing that part of the kingdom truth.
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