Believing is important.  Jesus made that quite clear to his disciple Thomas – the chap who missed Easter.  Thomas had problems accepting that Jesus was really alive.  He had said, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and unless I can touch the spear wound in his side I will not believe.”  When Jesus next appeared Thomas was there too and Jesus invited him to put his finger in the nail scars and his hand in the spear wound.  Thomas had then expressed what he now believed with the words, “My Lord and my God!”  Jesus responded by telling Thomas: You believed because you saw but blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.  It is important that we believe.

The million dollar question of course is: What should we believe...? And: How much must we believe?  It seems to me that there are two extremes.

At one extreme are those who say that it’s important to believe but that it’s not really so important what we believe.  I recall a discussion at our Men’s Shed over morning coffee that turned to matters of faith.  It was obvious that those at the table didn’t see eye to eye on a number of issues.  One of the men neatly solved the problem for us by saying, “Well, as long as you sincerely believe... but it doesn’t really matter what you believe... as long as you have faith.”  It’s the common view that all roads lead to Rome – or rather that there are numerous pathways to God.  Well, it really doesn’t take much effort to shoot that idea full of holes.  Imagine that I strongly believe that the Devil calls the shots and that I need to conform my life to the standards of Satan.  Would you still tell me that it’s okay... as long as I believe that sincerely?  How can you put that on par with believing that Jesus is your Lord, your Saviour and your Friend?  It’s good to be open minded – but we need to be careful... you can be so open-minded that your brains fall out.

The other extreme is one I have also come across from time to time.  On one occasion I took up a pastoral calling in another town.  I was keen to have some interaction with like-minded pastors and phoned one whose church had a similar historical background to mine.  In due course I visited him and we sat down to a cup of tea.  However my host had strong reservations about any further contact with me.  It appears that some twenty years earlier there had been some discussion about the way Christians should observe the Sunday in our denominational magazine.  He felt that our denomination had not defended the idea of the Sunday being like the Old Testament Sabbath.  He therefore concluded that it was not possible for him to have fellowship with me.  I not only had to believe in Jesus as my Saviour and Lord but I also had to believe certain things about the way the Sunday must be observed.  I never saw him again.

All of this has big repercussions for those who struggle with that fact that there are so many brands of Christian Churches.  Yes, it’s good to go to church; but which church?  I generally point out to people who struggle with this question that the things we hold to in common are far greater than the things that divide us.  It’s helpful here to think of that document called The Apostles’ Creed.  It sets out twelve core truths that Christians believe.  It is called an ecumenical Creed – because it’s held to be true by most Christian churches.  There are good reasons why I, as a pastor and preacher in a particular church, need to endorse additional things to those contained in the Apostles’ Creed.  But I’m on dangerous ground if I regard my church as the only true church and refuse to have fellowship with others simply because there are some areas where we don’t see eye to eye.

When it comes to matters of faith there are some beliefs that are non-negotiable for me - such as being saved by Jesus alone through faith alone.  But I mustn’t make the mistake of thinking I am forgiven and saved because I dot all my theological ‘í’s and cross all my theological ‘t’s.  At the end of the day it’s not my correct doctrine that saves me – only Jesus can do that.

John Westendorp