Over the last two years I have considered myself somewhat of a faith gypsy, traveling through various camps of Christianity and exploring the wilderness with God on my own spiritual walkabout. This has been the theme of my blog for quite some time now. I have enjoyed these two years of exploring the boxes that others find so comfortable, but I never quite felt at home. Some camp sites have incredible music while others are great at helping you wash laundry in the creek, but the feasting table has left me hungry for more. I don’t mean that as a negative thing, quite the contrary. I think this has been good for me. The appetizers should be enjoyable, yet small enough to leave room for the main course.

I read something today on Facebook written by my friend, Tim King, who has his Masters of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Seminary. He shared his thoughts on ‘the tree called “theology”’ and how it ‘has a multitude of branches’. I appreciated his openness in recognizing that people from various branches enjoy studying with such diversity. My heart grieved in agreement with him when he said this,

“I often seen professed Christians at each other’s throats in the name of orthodox theology.  Having Christians ripping into one another is not an unusual sight, neither in this day nor at any other time in history.”

When you seriously study the history behind the reformation, the battles between Calvinists, Luther, and various other people trying to discover their freedom in Christ, it really doesn’t look much different than what we see happening today.

{photo credit by Ashley}

He goes on to say,

“…the command that God’s people love one another — and show mercy, grace, patience, forgiveness, kindness, generosity and gentleness to one another — is stated more bountifully and clearly than 95% of the doctrines we use to smite one another.”

In his note he shared his thoughts on 1 Corinthians 8 which I found to be  simple yet profound and I feasted on the Spirit bring ing life to me in this area. The apostle Paul says,

1Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. 2If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.

This reminds me of Proverbs 4:7  ”The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.” We can get all kinds of knowledge, think our interpretations are correct, and draw the line in the sand to let people know where we stand on our beliefs, but if we can’t cross our own line in order to love one another then we remain isolated in foolishness.

There are some who are new to this revelation of Christ in them and they require nurturing, safety, and milk because this is gentle on their spiritual tummies.

1 Peter 2: 2As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

There’s some things that new born babes don’t understand. Sometimes God sets a steak before us, but to eat it in the presence of a babe might cause them to stumble. Paul expresses this beautifully which pertains to where I am in my walkabout with God. As a traveler in the faith, I have seen different feasting tables with fine tasting pottage and at other times I see fatted calves being served. In this religious world of what some call “a different jesus” I have come to understand something in what Paul says here,

1 Corinthians 8: 4Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” 5For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

There’s something about a babe, they don’t know how to read, they tend to speak babble and make funny bubbles in their lips while they grin and make a mess of their plates. As a mom I can say that although babies get a bit messy, they are so adorable to me. God is our Father and His babes are adorable to him as well.

1 Corinthians 8: 7However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.

Teenagers aren’t often fond of feeding a baby or letting them sit on their laps while they fuss, but our Heavenly Father doesn’t mind that. He has us right where He wants us and feeds us what He knows is best for us. He even wipes up our dribble. I don’t think he’d be too keen on us calling his babies names or belittling them for being babies. They are equally precious to him as anyone else is. Teens can partake in pizza while the babies eat oatmeal and that is just fine. Just don’t give pizza to an infant without the ability to process that food in his tiny mouth and throat.

1 Corinthians 8: 9 But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.

He’s speaking of our understanding of scriptures that are written, of books that are published, and videos that we watch. If a new born babe in Christ came to my home, I wouldn’t set out the book of Revelation as a topic to discuss. I may not lay out books written by Baptists in the company of a Calvinist friend. I certainly wouldn’t offer a reading from ‘The Shack’ to a new convert who worships in a strict fundamentalist church. In all this ongoing bashing of people who study and worship in different camps of Christianity, we really need to be careful of what we share with the audience we are in each day.

Perhaps this is why labels might be useful. I have disliked Christian labels for a long time, because I have seen how they hurt people, divide loved ones, and create chaos. This week I shared my thoughts on labels on Twitter when Misti said, “…Some get stuck on labels, so it’s harder w/ them. Others want to learn, so you can start w/ label & teach.”

You never know what you’re going to read when you come across a blog. The blogger doesn’t know who is reading therefore they have no idea on how to write on some topics so that babes don’t choke. So setting out the menu makes sense. This way a babe might decline the offer to dine with you and that is certainly their freedom to do so. Maybe your menu is written in such a way that they might come back at a later date. I know I’ve done that. Let’s just make sure not to scream “Rat” in someone else’s restaurant. That would be rude. You may not like Escargo, but God did create varying pallets that enjoy such dishes. {photo credit by Sisterlisa}

When I enter a gathering place for study and worship and I discern their nibbling on unleavended bread and sipping non fat milk theology I’ll respect that an not pull out my steak picnic in their presence, because even though Christ gave me steak, revealing that to others might be hindering the work He is doing in their lives.

1 Corinthians 8: 12Thus, sinning against your brothers^e and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

Therefore, I feel it is only fair to share with you that, for the time being, I am pitching my tent. There’s some believers who are sharpening their knives and cutting into steak and I want to see what nutrition comes from it. God told Adam that he could eat from all of the trees, except for one. This is the one tree I want to abstain from. The one that causes me to see with a beam in my eye.

Genesis 2: 15The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 16And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat^d of it you shall surely die.”

God gives us time to watch the branches to see if it bears fruit. I’ve been watching the fruit of many who are camping together and I am joining them for a while. I’m going to see how they tend the garden, watch the water flow, and see if I can bear fruit among them. You are certainly free to join me or watch at a distance. I do not judge you for that, I simply ask that you also follow Paul’s advice. If you think me a babe, leave me to eat what the Lord feeds me and love me just the same?

The fruit I have seen producing in the branches of Christian Universalism are bearing the fruit of joy, peace, and longsuffering. This is the kind of fruit I want to have. I want to know why this fruits grows among them. I have tried camping in other places that seemed to make fruit dry up, wither away, and become brittle in the hot sun. I discerned it was time to move on lest the Lord cast me away to be cut off. I don’t mind being pruned though.

John 15:2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

I do not think he is speaking about cutting us off as individual people from the Family of God, but rather cutting off that line of thinking. He is mighty to the pulling down of strongholds. But I’ll save that thought for another time.

I am working on my current ‘menu’ and will present it soon. If you are interested in what is set on the ‘feasting table’ here or even want to know the ‘recipes’, you are welcome to observe and when you feel you are ready..you may dine with me. Just don’t hate me or reject me if I happen to enjoy some dishes that may seem foreign to you.