I do not have these thoughts fully formed. But during my last few sermons taken from our lectionary texts around the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount, I have been wondering if the "dividing lines" in Christianity are ceasing to be Orthodox or Catholic, Catholic or Protestant, Mainline or American Evangelical, or Fundamentalist or Progressive.
Instead, I wonder if what is evolving is a schism between those who experience grace as God gifting us faith to make a correct choice or choices and those who experience grace as God gifting us a journey of faith with Christ in which all choices are redeemed. And while some denominations or groups are more predisposed to one side or the other, I am starting to believe that such a distinction will continue to cut across ecclesial structures because, at its heart, such a distinction defines our future understanding of soteriology, sanctification, sacraments, and ecclesiology.
And while both sides will turn to scripture to promote its legitimacy, how does Christ lead us in this potential emerging divide? Also, how can such an emerging divide be reconciled?
As I said, this is but a wondering.
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