The Dangers of Overambitious Orthodoxy

The Two Edged Sword

Orthodoxy is important within Christianity. There are a number of dogmas in Christianity to which we should adhere lest we find ourselves outside the fold. But, trouble arises when we push the need for orthodoxy too far. When we begin to make doctrinal statements conditions for right Christian standing, we turn orthodoxy into a two edged sword of separation. And, this creates a dire situation for all those who decide to bear this dangerous sword of orthodoxy.

Cutting Others Out

The first dangerous situation that arises from treating doctrinal issues as criteria for orthodoxy is the division it causes between believers. Christianity is supposed to be big enough to handle minor variations in doctrine. When we elevate doctrine to the level of dogma, we start pushing others away as heretics. We divide into camps, saying things like, "The people in Group X are not Christians because they do not hold to Doctrine Y."

Yet, the fact of the matter is that Jesus is what defines a Christian. As long as we hold to Him, we are in the fold. Doctrines pertaining to hell, providence, election, baptism, eschatology, and tongues should not divide the church like they do. Differences of opinion should not create classes within Christianity. Yet, that is exactly what happens when we exalt doctrine to the level of dogma, when we make the conditions for orthodoxy anything beyond that of the old creeds.

I once had a friend that tried to belittle me because we disagreed on the topic of eschatology and because he found out that I had a Charismatic background. It seemed like he saw our differences of opinion as trumping Jesus' command to "love one another" (John 13:34). It felt like he saw our doctrinal divergence as grounds to  demean me. Instead of rejoicing in the fact that we both embraced Christ, he sought to have a petty argument with me over matters of opinion. In doing so, he began to build a wall of separation between us.

Building Walls

The second dangerous result of exalting doctrinal issues to the level of orthodoxy is the fact that doing so builds walls. But, the chief danger here is not the fact that these walls keep others out as much as it is the fact that they keep us in, that they isolate us from others. It has been my experience that, you devote more time to the study of theology, there is greater potential for diverse opinions to be raised. And, what you find after some time is that the group of people that agree with you perfectly begins to shrink. Eventually, the walls we build to keep the "heretics" out become a jail cell that keeps us trapped. We find ourselves unable to fellowship with anyone because they all possess some minor doctrine with which we do not agree.

I know this from firsthand experience. Recently, I have undergone the task of searching for a new church. The problem is that, over the years, I have become so opinionated that I have difficulty really joining in with any body of believers lest we disagree. I have found that my opinions seem to isolate me. Beyond just making me think that no one else has thought through my pet issues like me, they instill in me a fear that no group could accept me as one of their own if they knew my stance on different doctrines. After all, who in the Bible-Belt could accept a open theist/partial-preterist/annihilationist? Thus, I reside in my little jail cell of doctrine, afraid that I can neither accept anyone else's doctrine nor be accepted by anyone else.

But, the fact of the matter is that there is an error in my ways. Doctrines are not meant to divide. They are merely meant to explain things in a coherent way. The fact that I have allowed issues of doctrine to potentially cut me off from others implies an error on my part. I have exalted my pet doctrines too high. I should be rejoicing in the fact that I embrace the same Christ that other believers embrace. I am not alone. I am part of a larger body.

In the end, as long as we can echo the motto of the Moravian Church ("In Essentials Unity, In Non-Essentials Liberty, In All Things Charity"), we will be fine. But, when we make the non-essentials too important, we risk damage to ourselves and others. Such is not the plan of Christ.