I was listening to an address on cassette tape by the great Palestinian Christian Elias Chacour. He was talking about being a refugee in his own land, robbed of home and dignity by Zionists. He went on to talk about the sins of racism, nationalism and confessionalism.

Confessionalism? Yes, whenever we codify the Christian faith into a doctrinal statement or theological tradition we are reducing something dynamic into a static system of beliefs. The Bible tends not to do this, but rather tells stories about God and humankind and the world we live in. So Westerners who use Cartesian logic to organize reality are the last people to really understand the Bible. (It's a pity most of the world's high-profile Bible teachers belong to these races).

As St. Gregory of Nyssa observed, 'Concepts create idols; only wonder comprehends anything.' And Pascal: 'The heart was its reasons which reason does not know... The knowledge of God is very far from the love of him.' So it should not be surprising that the two key 'kingdom values' for Jesus -
justice and love - do not get a mention in our historic creeds, confessions of faith, or most doctrinal statements!

Cure me of phariseeism, Lord Jesus, so that I may emphasize the dynamic priorities you major on, rather than limit your truth to static propositional (and exclusive) statements to describe what I believe. Remind me that the devils also believe, and tremble! Amen.