Loving Christian Diversity

Wonder what might happen to our planet if just the two BILLION Christians decided to quit "putting down" those who have a different approach to the Bible and Jesus? What would it be like if fundamentalists could lie down with the progressive ilk and that mainstream orthodoxers (a word?) would join hands with the New-agers? And what IF one could disagree with another without being called deceived or a cult member?  

I'm just talking Christians here now. I'm not even getting into the differences with all the other religions. Can this be that hard?

Why do we think that everyone else HAS (as in mandatory lest you be sent to hell for eternity) to BELIEVE as we do? Why do we think that OUR WAY is the ONLY WAY to interpret the Bible? Everyone of us, even those who shere very similar ideas, are different. As I see it, there are basically three levels of Christian churches in America today.

1-The Literal-Fundamentalist Church
2-The Rational-Mainstream Church
3-The Esoteric-Intutive Church

Let's let them all live together. All three are needful! There are people who NEED for the Bible to be totally infallible and inerrant. They believe in what Rob Bell calls "brickianity" which means to find fault in any one verse would fault the entire document. These people and this paradigm isn't going to go away. But, we can hope that they'd be kind and not disparage the reputations of those who don't think like they do.

The rational-mainstream believers are always looking for a way to justify that which doesn't make sense but they are afraid to wander too far from home plate. They can be progressive and maybe even a bit liberal on some topics but conservative on others. They are more tolerant and accepting of what others believe but they prefer to not spend too much time with the other two camps.

The esoteric-intuitive crowd frighten the fist two groups with their liberty, freedom, and acceptance of things that seemingly go "bump in the spiritual night." This crowd looks more to the Spirit to illumine the words on print and favor progressive revelation. Theirs is an inner spirituality which sees outer forms as useful, but not mandatory.

Another way to look at the three would be regarding the resurrection, as an example.

Fundamentalist need a physically risen body. Mainstreamers wonder if the body could have been stolen, relaxers placed in the vinegar, etc. or whatever so that the whole scene seems more rational. The Intuitive crowd doesn't need or see a physical Jesus parading somewhere out there because the body is spiritual and that's where we'll return so the resurrection, while valid, doesn't become an issue of a bodily debate.

Yes, I'm sure that there are combinations of the three and many more; however, I submit them to simply say, it's all okay! We're not called to JUDGE others, just LOVE them! Can you handle that?  :-)