On March 16, 2011 I became a heretic. Who knew?!? :)

March 16, 2011 turned out to be an "interesting" day in the life of me.  By days end I was a heretic.  Man, I never thought I reach that level of insult in my Christian life.  Awesome.  OR NOT. 

I've thought of all sorts of clever Facebook status' to announce my newly declared position.  I called my husband and told him I hoped he didn't mind being married to a heretic.  I told my prayer team that they were friends with a heretic.  None of them seemed to mind.  Hmmm.  Maybe that means they are heretics also since they associate with me!  :)

First of all, just so we are all on the same page. 
A heretic, as defined by Webster's Dictionary, is:
1: a dissenter from established religious dogma; especially : a baptized member of the Roman Catholic Church who disavows a revealed truth
2: one who dissents from an accepted belief or doctrine : nonconformist
Heretic comes from heresy, of course.  Here's that definition:
1a : adherence to a religious opinion contrary to church dogma b : denial of a revealed truth by a baptized member of the Roman Catholic Church c : an opinion or doctrine contrary to church dogma

2a : dissent or deviation from a dominant theory, opinion, or practice b : an opinion, doctrine, or practice contrary to the truth or to generally accepted beliefs or standards
These definitions make me curious about the definition of dogma.  Here's that one:
1a : something held as an established opinion; especially : a definite authoritative tenet b : a code of such tenets c : a point of view or tenet put forth as authoritative without adequate grounds

2: a doctrine or body of doctrines concerning faith or morals formally stated and authoritatively proclaimed by a church



Huh.  Well after reading those definitions maybe I AM a heretic!  But maybe I am in the best way possible!  SAY WHAT BETH?!?  Yep.  That's what I said. Maybe I should go back to those that called me a heretic, among other uncalled for and nasty names, and thank them for the compliment.  How crazy would that be?!? 

So I read those definitions and now I'm thinking.  I mean I am really chewing.  The Church has an interesting history.  We certainly didn't shine in the Dark Ages when I believe some true God-loving and God-fearing people were killed for being dissenters of Church doctrine.  And the Dark Ages haven't been our only dark moments.  Just last week when I was being called a heretic I almost thought those involved in the conversation were constructing a stake with which to tie me to.  And no.  I'm not really exaggerating all that much.  They were THAT vicious toward me.  So I think, I wonder if I had lived in the Dark Ages would I have been burned at the stake for my "dissenting" beliefs?  Hmmm. 

I know.  You are thinking, "Beth, what in the world?  What could you possibly believe that would prompt this?"  Okay. I'll tell you.  Are you ready?  Get the ropes, stake, and matches out.  Heck, while you're at it throw in all the ingredients for s'mores. I might be able to get one in before I go completely up in flames. :)

Here goes nothing...
I am inspired by Mother Theresa AND I have grown spiritually from a couple of Rob Bell's Nooma videos AND I suggested to some people that before they pass judgement on teachers of God's Word that they first do the biblical thing and be a "Berean" (i.e. they do their own research and homework on the person and make sure all claims they are hearing second and third hand are true and not false or embellished). 

GASP. 

Tie me on and light the match, let's get this stake burning going! 

I know.  Sounds like I'm exaggerating right?  Guess what? I'm NOT.  Those reasons are truly why the stake was being prepared. 

I need to return to the definitions above.  They make me think of something a bestie of mine and I have been throwing around lately. "God, I give you permission to offend MY doctrine for YOURS."  See, God's doctrine is 100% accurate.  Mine, yours, theirs is not.  It's not!  And so according to the definitions above I just might be a heretic because I don't, I can't adhere to "dominant theory, opinion, or practice" or "generally accepted beliefs or standards" and I don't see where God is asking me to conform (in one of the definitions above it mentions that a heretic is a nonconformist), in fact I see quite the opposite - he asks us to be nonconformists!  "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2)

Here's my take on this.  And mind you, I haven't worked this all out prior to typing these words.  I'm working it out RIGHT NOW, while typing.  This is hot off the press, fresh off my brain stuff going on.  So here's my take.  Just because it is generally accepted doesn't mean it is right and/or biblical!  But the Church has made some generally accepted things as good as Gospel when it fact they are not.  Just because some belief is a dominant one doesn't mean it is right and/or biblical!  But the Church has made it seem so. And if someone dares to question the generally accepted or dominant belief then light the match.  

REALLY?!?  

Are we that judgemental?  Are we that tied to our own doctrine?  Are we that sure of our accuracy?  Are we that threatened by someone who voices a different perspective?  Voices a doubt?  Voices a question?

REALLY?!? 
(You'll note that I can't help but ask that several times because I'm dumbfounded, just absolutely dumbfounded at the behavior of the Body of Christ and how they - on the whole - are choosing to represent Christ.  No wonder people are plugging their ears and walking the other way.  Were I not a believer in Jesus Christ already I'd be walking the other way as well.  Hey, I'm just being real and honest here.) 

Apparently "we" are all that and more.  Darn it. 
See, I've been "working" hard at not being like that and more. But unfortunately the yahoo's that act that way are a lot louder than those of us who choose to walk in the footsteps of Jesus. (Yes I just name called by calling them yahoo's.  I have other names I could use but I'm choosing to be the better person here. Cut me some slack!  Yahoo's is actually pretty nice of me.  Again, real and honest.) 

Above I made the suggestion that maybe I am a heretic in the best way possible.  Based on the definitions given I would say that the best way possible would mean that I don't blindly accept "generally accepted ideas or practices" and I don't blindly follow the "dominant opinions and theories" but I do what God asks me to do and I study his Word and his doctrine for myself!  According to the definitions and to the people who called me a heretic by being a "Berean" I am, in fact, a heretic!  So I'm choosing to say that I am a heretic in the best way possible because I'm choosing God over man, over myself!  I'm saying to God that I'm willing to have him expose my wrong thinking, my judgemental thinking, my unbiblical patterns and whatever else he needs to rid me of for the sake of his doctrine.  Because when it comes right down to it my heart really does want God's doctrine over my own or someone else's.

Maybe I'm delusional for choosing to "embrace" (okay I'm not really there yet - face it, the word or rather label 'heretic' stings a bit.  Not to mention the other names I was called.) the label "heretic". Maybe I'm choosing to read into it to ease my hurt heart.  Maybe I'm in denial about the definitions and don't want to see it for what it really is. 

Or maybe, just maybe, I'm on to something. 

Maybe, just maybe, I'm not the only heretic in my circles of influence.  Maybe this will start a revolution of heretics.  People willing to say to God, "God, I give you permission to offend MY doctrine for YOURS."  Maybe those kind of people are heretics in the best way possible. 

Maybe heretics won't be a dirty Christian word and insult anymore.  Maybe it can become a compliment.

Maybe. 

All I know is on March 16, 2011 I became a heretic.  And who knows?  Well God.  He knows! Awesome?  Maybe!