The Problem of Christian Sub-Cultures
I had the following dream in which I was an observer. The dream featured two friends; Phil Drysdale and Steve Harmon, who were engaged in activities that were highly visible to the public. They appeared to serve as ambassadors that represented different nations.
Throughout the dream, they spoke to me and others about different things that were on their minds. Their agendas and motives appeared to be perfectly legitimate. I could not detect any selfishness or hostility in either of them. I saw no malice toward anyone.
Yet their presence seemed to trigger explosions wherever they went. When Phil showed up somewhere an explosion would detonate nearby. It seemed like the explosion was intended to hurt him, but it did no damage. When Steve appeared somewhere, the same thing happened.
There were questions asked about whether Steve or Phil were trying to harm one another. Each made it clear that they had no connection to the explosions and no desire to harm anyone. In the dream, their stories seemed true.
And yet, the explosions continued. [This was the end of the dream]
Interpretation
I’ve become acquainted with Steve and Phil in the last few months and I’ve spoken to both of them recently. I had a 2 – hour Skype chat with Steve the night of the dream. During our chat, we discussed (among other things) the different sub-cultures within Christianity and the tendency we have to become polarized around different beliefs. I think the dream is an illustration of the problems that come from the polarization of the church into sub-cultures.
I don’t believe the dream indicates that Steve or Phil are guilty of any wrongdoing. I think it suggests a general problem in the church at large—not with specific people.
Phil comes from a sub-culture where rest in the finished work of the cross is emphasized and where our own works (especially law-based ones) are frowned upon.
Steve comes from a sub-culture where doing the work of ministry (healing, deliverance and evangelism) is emphasized and where rest (particularly the kind of rest where we become self-absorbed navel-gazers) is frowned upon.
These two sub-cultures have relevant messages for the world. Both emphasize certain truths that are central to Christianity. Both bring glory to God in what they do. But both emphasize certain truths at the expense of other truths that are just as true and just as valuable.
In the dream, neither Steve nor Phil were aware that their camp (sub-culture) was responsible for inflicting damage to others in the body of Christ.
But that’s exactly how sectarianism works. And the dream is about sects in the body of Christ, which today might be called sub-cultures.
Paul’s letter to the Church at Corinth spoke to the dangers of sectarianism. Whether the dividing line is a particular teacher or a set of beliefs, sectarianism is dangerous. It fragments a united body, causing disputes and hostility between sects, which was illustrated in the dream by the explosions.
Nearly every spiritual truth is held in tension by another truth that seems to oppose it. The finished work of the cross can be seen either as a reason to do nothing or as permission to conquer the world. It depends on which sub-culture you’re in.
Are believers justified by faith or by works?
Your answer depends on whether you quote James or Paul. Each argued a different truth.
The Bible is full of truths that are perceived by our minds as ideas. Some of those ideas appear to be better or more truthful than others. Some appear to be less truthful.
Liberty is better than slavery. Love is a better than hatred. Paul puts forth a hierarchy among the virtues of faith, hope and love—placing love at the top. Some ideas are clearly better than others. But many ideas are on equal footing. Joy is not necessarily better than sober-mindedness. Rest is not always better than diligence and forgiveness is not better than justice. In many cases, one idea is no more important or better than another.
When an idea strikes us as being particularly true or important, our mind elevates it to a higher place and embraces it in a stronger way. There is a danger to elevating ideas. When we make one idea our centerpiece, we make its opposing idea (and anyone who embraces it) our enemy. When we zealously defend certain truths, we become blind to other important but opposing truths. We gather with those who elevate the same ideas and separate from those who don’t. The separation over ideas is sectarianism.
The schism over Calvinism and Arminianism would never have developed were it not for the elevation of two sets of opposing ideas.
To his credit, Phil Drysdale recently asked those in the grace movement to consider acting more mercifully toward those who have not yet embraced radical grace. His willingness to extend an olive branch toward his critics displays the kind of maturity that we desperately need. We need to be more tolerant of our brothers and sisters who don’t see things exactly the way we do. It’s my hope that we will one day put aside the doctrinal debates that divide us and instead, embrace the common things that unite us.
Good Morning Praying Medic, this was awesome. Well explained, meaty. TY
Good Morning, Dee!
i forgot you were here too.. this article is complete ‘truth’ . since i was raised in the church and in a particular brand of Koolaid, it has been the most dangerous thing i have ever done to embrace those parts of the whole i don’t understand, don’t really ‘agree with’, am not sure of their ‘value’. my lifetime journey is to find and do and be everything Jesus n God n Holy spirit is.
i am both lost and found simultaneously.
all i know is that you are right PM, wherever there is an explosion, there is damage.
I love this, it speaks so clearly of what we all see everyday or everytime we disagree with someone else’s doctrine or opinion. This really has to stop and I actually know for a fact it will. Jesus never had a prayer that wasn’t answered or that won’t be answered. He prayed that we would be one, united as He and the Father are. I believe it will come to pass. This ‘camp’ issue reveals exactly the opposite of what Jesus prayed. Thankfully (on a good day that is!) the Lord has been really working this out in my life…..
What often happens with me is that when I come to a certain place of understanding or have realized a new (for me) truth, the Lord will often not let me stay in that place for very long. Quite often I run the risk of becoming an expert of my own opinions and understandings. Whether consciously or unconsciously, he leads me to other things or other people who have greater understanding or at least a different or wider perspective than the one I happen to be currently living in. It’s a walk of new understanding by the day.
Thanks for talking about this!
Sorry, forgot to leave my name above!
I have seen them both and a few others. The verse study to show your-self approved unto GOD. We can’t worry about everyone else’s believing or not our way but seek in the word of GOD what we should be doing.
Good stuff, very true. Thanks Praying MEdic. What’s your name by the way, or you would rather keep it anonymous. I follow you on FB, but it’s just curiosity. If you prefer to keep it private, I apologize for asking. God bless!
I prefer to keep ny name anonymous. Thank you for dropping by!