Everythingism
Aug 20th, 2007 by Amanda
MIntheGap posted something today that has helped me identify part of my problem. He writes about two errors that many Christians make today as highlighted by Scott Buchanan in his article Indifferentism vs. Everythingism: Stay in the Middle of the Road.
First, let’s get some definitions out of the way:
- Indifferentism is the error of accepting the gospel but refusing to acknowledge the doctrines of the gospel as “unbreachable boundaries for Christian faith and fellowship.”
- Everythingism is the error of holding all doctrines on the same level as the gospel, making every belief a boundary for faith and fellowship.
The problem here is that both are wrong Scripturally. The one is wrong because there are doctrines that go along with salvation that must be maintained. The other is wrong because not every doctrine is of the same weight as salvation or necessary for salvation.
I fall into the second category. Well, I’m desperately trying to get out of that second category. To the point of wearing nothing but red shirts.
Most Christians tend to be more sensitive to one error and to neglect the other. Many evangelicals are quick to perceive the intrinsic factiousness of everythingism, but in avoiding it they become tolerant of indifferentists. Fundamentalists go miles out of their way to avoid the compromise of indifferentists, but they are willing to put up with the everythingists. On both sides, political considerations sometimes become more important than integrity.
If we want a truly biblical Christianity, then we are going to have to avoid both errors. We are going to have to treat everythingists and indifferentists with about the same misgiving. Of course, in order to do that we shall have to become skilled at judging the importance of doctrines. We must develop special proficiency for discriminating fundamentals from non-fundamentals.
As much as I hate labels, I like being able to identify an issue that I’m having.
I asked a friend last week how you go about changing something that’s been engrained in you for so long and his answer, annoying as it was, is true: “You just…do.” That’s my current goal. To change. To be able to take my faith seriously despite my doubts. To trust God even when I don’t trust myself.
Don’t expect it to happen overnight.
Hang in there, we are praying for you as you continue to work through and process everything. God is so good, and in his timing you will see everything clearly.
That’s my current goal. To change. To be able to take my faith seriously despite my doubts. To trust God even when I don’t trust myself.
Don’t expect it to happen overnight.
it sure doesn’t. However, I sure find it strange that this is the direction you have chosen to pursue. After reading some of your posts it appears that you have come to a crossroads where you have witnessed that the Bible is not in fact the inerrant word of god, and it more likely to be the handiwork of man.
This clearly explains the numerous inconsistencies (like the differences in the description of Jesus ressuraction), ethical dilemmas (incestuous relationship that must have taken place after adam and eve), flat out moral wrongs (Job sleeping with his daughters, even if he was drunk), bizzarre silliness (tons of stuff in leviticus about slavery, male to male homosexuality but not female to female, growing out side burns, men owning their wives, I coudl go on forever), and parts that are just flat out wrong, like my personal favorite where in Kings, God seems to think that Pi=3.
While certainly “good christians” have rejected the OT as fables and the NT as the ‘truer’ word in which jesus’ message is more about love than power, it is still a strange document to focus on, with its mistranslations (young woman translated to virgin), additions (no copy of the bible before 1000 AD has the story of the pharsi’s and “let he without sin cast the first stone) and various changes intentional and non intentional as the bible was copies by hand by people who may or may not have been able to read as can easily be seen by reading the differences between the dead sea scroll and post Gutenburg printed bibles.
so after your realization that for the most part, people dont take the bibles as the literal word of god (although there are a great many that do), I find it strange that you are looking for your path back to that state.
Personally, I would love to see you break out of that system where a church literally controls your thoughts (I am fully aware that you do not see it this way), and you are able to have the confidence, the desire, and the ability to see that you, in fact, are in control of the world around you. you are 100% responsible for the way you react to the good and the bad in the world. You, in fact, are capable of amazing joy, amazing altruism, amazing appreciation for the people and beauty of the things around you.
you are allowed. there is no rule that says you must believe in one of any number of gods that people have created. you have about 80 years on this planet, make the best of it.
good luck in your transition. There is great comfort in knowing true freedom.
Tech-
I would say that it appears you’re guilty of doing what I’ve been doing. You have some preconceived notions of what “faith” is, and you’re lumping me back into that pool.
As I said earlier in the week, I do believe that faith and reason can co-exist. They have to! You see, I’ve seen the power of God. That’s not something I can ignore. I can try (and I have tried), but in the end, I know that God really does exist. Does that mean He looks the way He was portrayed in the Bible? Not at all.
I don’t have all the answers. Obviously. If I did, there wouldn’t be so many posts devoted to my struggles!
My struggles are with the institution of Christianity and the Bible itself - not with God. As I said, I’ve seen the power of God.
Perhaps I have not found it in your blog yet. Could you perhaps repeat what you saw? I’m always looking for what people see as evidence for god.
I’m also not sure I lumped you in with a group. I certainly mentioned the groups I was talking about but in no way did I intend on lumping you in with them. If I delineated that I am truly sorry.
My confusion was simply about your maintaining your belief in god and seeing how you may fit within the christian paradigm, rather than rejecting it all together, or simply keeping the god part and rejecting the organized religion part (being a theist).
I’m curious about what I’ve written that’s led you to believe that I’m looking to fit into the “Christian paradigm.”
I’ve talked about faith and God, but not Jesus. I’ve talked about how I’ve realized some teachings were wrong that how that has completely destroyed my foundation of Christianity.
Where, in all of that, am I trying to fit into Christianity, when it’s Christianity that I’m having trouble with?
My Dear Mandi Darling,
Your very public struggle and journey is something new to most. It’s like halfway through the first season of a reality TV show (only with actual reality and interestingness), and not everyone caught the first few episodes.
With many of your most regular commenters choosing to ignore the fact that you’ve dumped Christianity and their continuing to address the issue in the form of “atheism or Fundy Christian”, it does somewhat muddy the waters for someone new here.
Perhaps tech can be forgiven for not catching that somewhat subtle nuance.
Kisses
forgive me I am new to your blog. Janie is quite right.
I thought you had your foundation of fundamental Christianity destroyed, and as I read the other commenters discussing Jesus (who seemed to be talking with you rather than at you), I had understood that your were trying to understand the how to fit in that paradigm. further you are remaining monotheistic, so I figured you were sticking with christianity, otherwise that leaves islam, judaism or simple theism. I am slowly grasping that you are in fact, on a non-organized theistic path, which is probably the hardest one while remaining religious. There are not many who are on the same journey as you (same with us atheists).
Can I suggest looking into universal unitarianism? I am no expert in that arena, but I have met many people who are and have enjoyed their company and tolerance.
oh no! I screwed up the hypertext!
is that better?
No worries, I fixed it.
I think that where I am right now is a good place for me. Not forever, of course. But it’s a place of rest. But, thanks for the suggestion.