The Essence of Christianity

Dangerous ground! if anybody can disagree about anything, they can disagree about the essence of their faith. Christians are no exception. Are some Christians just plain wrong about the essence of their faith? Does the essence of Christianity vary from place to place, or from age to age? We often speak the language of eternal truth, but find that our descriptions of that truth seem somewhat transient. On the basis of recent conversations among the faithful, however, I feel that I can offer (in no particular order) some stable criteria for genuine Christianity.

* It's about community: Christ is with us in our solitude, but is identifiable in our love for each other.

* It's about acceptance: Where people are rejected by any community, even those with Christian labels, Christ is with them rather than those who have cast them out.

* It's about liberation: Christ is the truth that sets us free. If we are still longing for our freedom, then we're still longing for Christ.

* It's a journey: Christ is our companion on the way, not the distant objective (that's the kingdom of God).

* It's about the outrageous presence of God in the middle of all that seems most distant from God, who does not keep a sanctified distance from the world, but risks getting right into it.

* It's about opening our eyes to where God is, and what God is doing, and joining in. It's about experiencing God's life and sharing it.