Eden Is Mine

The backstory:
Scrolling quickly through my news feed, I stumbled across an excited post by a friend who had just participated in an interdenominational “unity” event amongst local churches.  Sadly, but not surprisingly, fellow evangelicals saw the post, and jumped on the opportunity to dive in for the needed “pick-apart”.
So it began:
“My brother, this is wrong, because …”
“Christians shouldn’t…”
“But, my friend, the Bible says…”
“We are ___, but they are _____, therefore we need to keep our distance…”
And before I knew it, there we were, all definitively chopped back up into little pieces all over his Facebook wall.
Now, to be fair, this one hasn’t yet gotten as heated as some I’ve seen.  The gospel debaters have thus far remained somewhat restrained in their replies, so I commend them for that.  There was even a line in there about loving all [of those in error, from a safe distance]– but I have to say, it felt a bit hollow.

So I was sad.
Sad for the naive young fellow who thought a unity celebration was a good thing, and got the riot act read publicly to him on his own wall (by those declaring themselves to be more knowledgeable about unity).
Sad for those engaging in the debate with that heart-pounding need to strike a blow that couldn’t be returned.  I’ve been there.
Sad for those who were being cut, once again, from the “IN” group–sent back to “OUT”, where they are loved and prayed for but not to be trusted.
Sad for those reading, who were now left in the position of judge.  Who is right? What of those who get it wrong?

But as I let that sadness roll around in my heart a little bit, I realized there was something else growing in there too.  Appreciation.

As I sat there, letting my frustration subside, I realized with wonder that I  no longer feel the constant need to defend my perspectives tooth & nail.
I no longer have to fight to be right as if my life depended on it… Because here’s the kicker:
I NO LONGER BELIEVE THAT IT DOES.

I no longer live in fear of my religious belief being wrong.  I’m not scared any more that if I don’t have my understanding of God perfectly right at the end of the day, He’s going to burn me alive.  It’s kinda nice, I gotta say.
I actually have confidence that His holy Spirit can lead me into all truth, and that I don’t have to fear “missing it”.
I’ve come to the conclusion that His:
*love is bigger than my ability to comprehend it.
*truth is larger than my capacity for it
*grace is greater than my grasp of it

So, yeah, I’m still kinda bummed about the way that wall post about walls coming down caused a bunch more walls to be thrown up…but more than that,

I’m thankful.

I’m thankful for conversations that challenge.
For passions that flare.
For views that differ.
For others who value the Author of Truth more than their version of His words.
For those who love loving more than they love being right.

And I’m so glad to have a God whose Rightness and Goodness trump my wrongness forever.

1 Corinthians 13 (Mirror Bible)
Speaking in tongues is not the point; love is.  It is neither angelic eloquence, nor the mastery of human language that persuades.  It doesn’t matter how poetic, prophetic or profound I may sound; my conversation is reduced to the hollow noise of clanging brass cymbals if love’s echo is absent.
I could predict the future in detail and have a word of knowledge for everyone.  I could possess amazing faith, and prove it by moving mountains!  It doesn’t make me any more important than anyone else.  Love is who you are!  You are not defined by your gift or deeds.
Love is not about defending a point of view; even if I am prepared to give away everything I have and die a martyr’s death; love does not have to prove itself by acts of supreme devotion or self sacrifice!
Love is large in being passionate about life and relentlessly patient in bearing the offenses and injuries of others with kindness.  Love is completely content and strives for nothing.  Love has no desire to make others feel inferior and has no need to sing its own praises.
Love is predictable and does not behave out of character.  Love is not ambitious.  Love is not spiteful and gets no mileage out of another’s mistakes.
Love sees no joy in injustice. Love’s delight is in everything that truth celebrates.
Love is a fortress where everyone feels protected rather than exposed! Love’s persuasion is persistent! Love believes.  Love never loses hope and always remains constant in contradiction.
Love never loses its altitude! Prophecies will cease. Tongues will pause.  The quest for knowledge will be inappropriate when perfection is grasped.
What we perceived in prophetic glimpses is now concluded in completeness!
When I was an infant I spoke infant gibberish with the mind of an infant; my reasoning also was typical of an infant; how it all changed when I became a man! I am an infant no more!
There was a time of suspense, when everything we saw was merely mirrored in the prophetic word, like in an enigma; but then I gaze face-to-face; behold, I am in him! Now I may know even as I have always been known!
Now persuasion and every pleasurable expectation is completed in agape.  Agape is the superlative of everything faith and hope always knew to be true about me!  Love defines my eternal moment!