Faith, The Only Certainty

Christains share the basic confession that Jesus died for their sins. But that sole foundation of belief, when mixed with the many other aspects of the person and their experiences, is expressed in dramatically opposing views. Some views can be attributed to a simple emphasis of Justice or Mercy, but more often, there are many other subtle aspects that play into the persons expression of their faith.

To understand these incongruent outcomes is something I enjoy pondering. The quote by Abraham Lincoln fits well on this issue: "I don't like that person, I need to get to know them better." The power of uniting the people and understanding the reasons for their varing views may help us to establish, ultimately, more peace.

At church, I have friends who are more liberal than I am conservative. I feel that as a result, we are somehow less effective at achieving the goals we share as Christians. Striving to find the common ground and putting our focus there would be more effective than casting votes that end up cancelling each other out.

What principles or additional beliefs drive us, many, but for example:

• Government - a source of solutions or cause of problems?
• Should taxes be higher to provide more services or lower to allow individuals to share according to their choosing?

Seek first to understand, then be understood.