The challenge of living convictions (12/100)

Yesterday, I read a speech from Pope John Paul II challenging the community of the Faith with the lives of the martyrs. “A heritage which speaks more powerfully than all the causes of division” has been given to us by those who have gone before us. “The ecumenism of the martyrs and the witnesses to the faith is the most convincing of all; to the Christians of the 21^st century it shows the path to unity. It is the heritage of the cross lived in the light of Easter.”

Indeed, when laid side by side, the witnesses of the past in all the churches and ecclesial communities and the current schisms and divisions do not compare but instead reveal in contrast the breadth of boundless love with the narrow pettiness of self-righteous declaration. O, Lord, will they know that we are your disciples or will our lives speak louder than our words? (John 13:35).

And today, I found myself wondering if I was dwelling in love as I responded to an extensive website and program that promotes wholeness among college students. The materials looked so good that I wondered if there could be a way to work with the designers of the program.

But then, I discovered that the site was developed through a university sponsored by a particular church that I have problems accepting because of the way their members function on the mission field. In fact, what I have seen is the very opposite of the grace and love that is the gospel. Preaching Jesus they lay heavy burdens of legalism on the backs of the new believers. (My life filled with legalism prior to crossing the line of faith makes me particularly sensitive to this issue.) Examples of their actions that I have seen include requiring abandonment of the home culture, giving up the primary food source for the sake of dietary practices, and strict clothing and meeting practices outside of reason and cultural norms.

And so, what do I do with Pope John Paul's challenge and observation? Can I link arms with this group?

I don't see this as pettiness or self-righteousness. I think my convictions hang on the essence of the Pope's message; namely, the place of unity is the cross (the place of death and sacrifice) and the deliverance from the bondage of sin and law as expressed in the resurrection on Easter (new life, freedom, deliverance). Can I (we) learn from them? Absolutely, and we will.

Maybe, I'm wrong. Or maybe, particularly as I see the larger application of this ministry to cross-cultural workers of all categories (missionaries, development workers, business people), Pope John Paul has given me a filter that can serve to determine with whom to partner and with whom to only learn from.

The Pope's homily was delivered during a special ecumenical gathering to honor all those Christians killed for their faith in the 20^th century held at the Coliseum in Rome.