November 18, 2004
Heaven
We hear much talk today of schism, even of heresy. Perhaps some clarity about these two ancient words is in order.
The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church than which there is no whicher says that schism is distinguished from heresy in that the separation involved is not at basis doctrinal. Heresy is opposed to faith. Schism is opposed to love. (2d ed, p 1242)
The great risk of schism and of the cavalier way some seem even to provoke and to welcome it is that it can create before our very eyes a loveless church for which orthodoxy means everything. If I must choose (I hope not, but I wouldn’t bet the farm on it these days), I would choose without question even an unfaithful church that is loving over a loveless church that is orthodox.
Talk about evangelism. How about modeling a place, a community not where there is a rigid demand for right thinking and a lot of petty squabbling, but where there is unqualified love and acceptance and justice and peace?
Rather like the movie “Field of Dreams.” If we build it, they will come. So then, look around you, and if someone asks, “Is this heaven?” we can say, “No. It is only us.”