I see the world headed for disaster inescapably or precipitately.  Why would I want to jump on the handbasket and ride with it?  I wouldn’t, but I understand why people take that handcart.  The expression comes from a Hieronymous Bosch painting, The Haywain (c. 1515, below) in the middle of which is a large cart of hay heading to Hell, drawn by beings, whose business is to drag everyone to Hell.

It seems like it would be much easier for me to capitulate on several beliefs and practices that I, and our church, believe and do.  I don’t mean stop believing and practicing them myself, but allowing for a variation in belief and practice, so that a number of diverse positions can be taken without consequence.  Several different positions on a wide variety of issues would be welcome.  But would it be easier?

What I’m describing so far would be categorizing a number of beliefs and practices as questionable.  These matters have received a title, adiaphora.  The Latin word means, “not differentiable.”  A well-known issue that some call “adiaphora” is mode of baptism, whether immersion or sprinkling, or recipient of baptism, paedobaptism or credobaptism.  Perhaps someone sprinkled as an infant or as an adult could join our church along with those immersed as adults, everybody together in one big happy family.

Latitude might be given on eschatology by welcoming amillennialists or premillennialists, pre, mid, or post tribulation rapture for those who even believe in a rapture.  Some women cover their thighs and others wear Daisy Dukes, some wear pants and other exclusively skirts, dresses, or culottes. Some watch Game of Thrones and others do not.  Some refrain from foul language and others use it.  Genesis 1-2 are a literal, grammatical historical account or just symbolic, either view acceptable and not differentiable. All types of music can be used or played on a personal basis or in church:  rock, country, classical, or what formerly was called sacred.  Would this be easier?

As I think about whether it’s easier to concede in a number of different matters that I, or our church, presently do not, I see it from a financial standpoint.  The church would grow in numbers and the offerings would rise, even if there was a smaller number tithing, because that would be optional.  I would have less to think about in the realm of pastoral qualifications, because it would be difficult not to qualify.  It would be hard to discern when someone has violated something, because so much of what was a problem is no longer a problem.  I guess I could call all that easy.

Furthermore, many, many people I know would be much, much happier if I capitulated in the way I’ve described.  They would celebrate, probably with a party with alcohol and dancing.  We would now “get along.”  We would be “unified.”  We could start having fun together, otherwise known as being nice and loving.  I wouldn’t be confronting anyone for anything, so I would receive credit for being gracious.  No one would feel guilty around me, and so their psyche would apparently improve.  What a world that sounds like.

Now, one more thing.  When I say, it seems like it would be much easier for me, I want you to know that I mean me.  The emphasis is on me.  Myself.  What I want for myself.  I have to consider, yes, whether that’s what life is about, but for purposes of self-interest, I’ve got to think about me first when it comes to things being much, much easier.  The main criteria here is me.  That’s the highest value for many who take the direction I’m explaining in this short post.  Me is on the pedestal, highest possible purpose.  Me.

However, what might seem easier for me wouldn’t be easy for me.  I couldn’t continue, knowing the violation of scripture.  I would think God is being disobeyed.  The church would change.  The distinction between the church and the world would shrink, if not disappear.  It wouldn’t be easy for me to join in that.  I couldn’t lead a church in that way.  I couldn’t live that way.  I’m not claiming sinless perfection, but I believe scripture is perspicuous and that God expects us to believe, practice, and enforce it.  I would quit before I or our church started acting like I’m describing.  It wouldn’t be easy for me, because I would be in a sort of anguish, mental and emotional pain for several reasons.

I would know God isn’t being pleased, which is why I do what I do.  I would know that people are being hurt spiritually, even damned to eternal punishment because of conduct not becoming the gospel.  I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror believing and practicing with such indifference to the truth in so many different areas.  I would know that I was helping send the world to hell in that handbasket I mentioned earlier.  That shouldn’t be easy for anyone.  It would be insane or a kind of spiritual violence.

I believe in Christian liberty.  Christians should be given or allowed liberty in non-scriptural issues.  Certain practices have some latitude.  No Christian has the liberty to false belief and wrong behavior.  Ignoring what’s around me is easier.  Not impeding anyone from anything is easier.  These are easier only in a certain sense, in a certain deceptive sense, like enjoying the pleasures of sin.  It’s but for a season.  Eternity is a lot longer.  Even though it seems like it would be much easier, it really wouldn’t be.