The Great Divide

I’ve been a Christian since the age of 12.  I’ve been to college and seminary and served in various churches throughout the years.  Each church God put me in was for me a learning experience and filled with teachable moments.

As I reflect back on some of those teachable moments, I’ve noticed that the average Christian church is divided into two parts:  Those who are strong on teaching bible doctrine / theology, and those who are not.  They are more into teaching practical Christian living or things that center in pragmatism. One group values doctrine and the other values practicality.

In some churches, you’ll hear a seven part sermon series on God’s Eternal Decrees.  In other churches you’ll hear a seven part sermon series on how to have a more joyful marriage. 

It is important, of course, to have a sound and biblical understanding of God’s sovereignty over all things, to at least have a beginning understanding of His decrees. One way to get there might be a seven part sermons on His decrees. It is also important, however, to have a joyful marriage. One way to get there might be a seven part sermons on joyful marriages. We can talk about and be preached to about both of these precisely because the Bible speaks to both of these issues. These two approaches need not be at war with each other. Both have their place.

What becomes an issue and a great concern is the dichotomy we create when we talk about doctrine and practical matters in this way. That is, it is a profoundly practical matter to understand God’s decrees. And how we have joyful marriages is deeply connected with sound doctrine.   The theology of having a joyful marriage is doctrinally connected to understanding Christ’s relationship with His bride, the church (Eph. 5).

Not only, however, are doctrine and practical matters inextricably bound together, but there is another element we would do well not to forget. The Christian faith touches not just on what we think, not just on what we do, but also on how we feel. We are called to doctrinal orthodoxy (right thinking), to practical orthopraxy (right doing), and to emotional orthopathos (right feelings).

The world, of course, has a different perspective. Just as epistemological relativism affirms, “I can have my own truth and will have no one rule over my mind,” and ethical relativism affirms, “I can affirm my own right and wrong and no one shall rule over my conscience,” so emotional relativism affirms, “I can feel whatever my heart desires, and no one will rule over my feelings.” Indeed, in the world, feelings have no need for any justification. Whatever we feel, we feel. It is what it is.

We as Christians, however, are not of this world. We have another calling. The great commandment demands that we love the Lord our God not just with all our minds and with all our strength, but with all our hearts as well. Love encompasses knowing who He is. It encompasses obeying His commands. But it also is genuine emotion. A failure to love Him with all our hearts isn’t something that happens to us but is instead something of which we are guilty. Love is the only right and fitting response to His glory, for He is altogether lovely.

These three, however—our heads, our hands, and our hearts—are not just three pillars standing side by side. Rather, they are three strands of one strong cord. They are intertwined with each other, strengthening each other. The more we know about who God is, the more our heart resounds with joy.

Doctrine matters. Practice matters. Feeling matters. For all that we are is His. There is nothing more practical than doctrine. There is nothing more true than obedience. And there is nothing more moving than a growing and vibrant relationship with God.