I was having a conversation this morning via text with an individual who believes that you can go to heaven by being a good person... I, of course, do not agree with that. However, that is not the point of this. She accused me of holding doctrine too high. Can doctrine be held too high? Probably, if it supersedes scripture or love. I love the rules and explanation of rules that doctrine gives us. I read the UM BoD for enjoyment on more than one occasion. Nonetheless, in this particular discussion I was not holding doctrine too high.
Rules have their place but they must not outrank love. Jesus displayed this for us very clearly. When the woman caught in adultery was brought before the public, the rule or law said to stone her. But the law of love, Christ himself, stepped in and saved her life. If I keep the rules, and have not love I am but a clanging symbol. This does not mean that I do not love doctrine and that doctrine is suddenly not important. It simply means that I must add love to my doctrine.
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