Image via Wikipedia
This is part of a series of posts based on the Churches Together in England publication one light: one world. If you click on the link you will find the biblical texts. This post of the same name covers the purpose of this series.
Matthew 5: 21 - 24
This reading falls foul of a difficulty I have remarked upon several times during this series of posts. These passages are addressed to individuals, quite rightly. However, our divisions are institutional rather than individual.
Of course, individuals identify with institutions and so may be divided at a personal level from those who believe differently. Nevertheless, there is little we can do to change our institutions.
So, if I take my offering to the altar and then remember my neighbour has the fact that I'm a Methodist against me, what then? I might have tried many times to be reconciled. I might have considered changing my tradition. The problem is, of course, when do you stop? Do I change my tradition every time I meet someone who is convinced theirs is the only one that's valid?
But to treat the traditions as a series of lifestyle choices means, I will never identify with one tradition for long enough to be formed by it.
So, the problem is the remedy in this passage is not really a solution to the problems we face. By all means if I've fallen out with someone, I need to do something about it. But what more can I do about our institutional differences? It's frustrating because we're supposed to be free of the powers and principalities but are still held tight by our institutions.
Still, the least we can do is watch we don't allow our institutional differences to sour personal relationships.
Comments