Read Matthew 23:23-24

ALSO IN SCRIPTURE
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.” (John 13:34 NLT)

We’ve all seen the bumper magnets and bulletin signs urging us to “Keep Christ in Christmas.” While well-intentioned, this phrase often misses the mark. It focuses on preserving a commercialized image of “baby Jesus” rather than embracing the full, transformative power of Christ in our lives. The real challenge we face isn’t just keeping Christ in a holiday—it’s keeping Christ in Christian.

Part 10: Don’t Prioritize Dogma Over Relationships: In the 2003 film “Luther,” there’s a powerful scene where Martin Luther (played by Joseph Fiennes) confronts the harsh dogma of his time. A young boy has committed suicide and is found hanging from scaffolding erected for repairs on the town’s church. The boy’s body is discovered suspended from one of the horizontal beams, creating a stark and haunting image that underscores the tragedy of the situation.

According to church doctrine, suicides were considered damned and couldn’t be buried in consecrated ground. In a defiant act of compassion, Luther insists on burying the boy in the Christian cemetery, declaring it was the devil’s work that killed the boy, not God’s judgment.

While this specific incident is a dramatic interpretation rather than historical fact, it powerfully illustrates the conflict between rigid dogma and compassionate relationships. The scene captures the essence of Luther’s more nuanced views on suicide, even if it takes some artistic liberties.

Historically, Luther did express more compassionate views on suicide than the prevailing Catholic doctrine of his time. In his Table Talk, Luther is recorded as saying that those who commit suicide are “blinded by the devil” and shouldn’t be judged too harshly. He emphasized the personal struggle with the devil and God’s ultimate intentions for individuals, rather than blanket condemnation.

Luther didn’t campaign to change burial practices for suicides, but his teachings laid the groundwork for a more nuanced understanding of mental health and divine mercy. This historical context, combined with the film’s dramatization, provides a rich illustration of prioritizing relationships and compassion over strict adherence to dogma.

As Christians, we often face similar conflicts between our doctrinal beliefs and the messy realities of human relationships. We might be tempted to cling to rigid interpretations of scripture or church traditions at the expense of showing Christ’s love to those who are hurting or marginalized.

Jesus himself often prioritized relationships and compassion over strict adherence to religious law. He healed on the Sabbath, touched those considered unclean, and ate with sinners – all actions that scandalized the religious authorities of his time. These authorities even went so far as to judge Jesus as being a glutton and a drunkard because of his scandalous associations (Matthew 11:19). In Matthew 23:23-24, Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for their meticulous adherence to minor points of the law while neglecting “the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith.”

This doesn’t mean that doctrine is unimportant. Our beliefs shape our actions and our understanding of God. However, when we allow our dogma to become a barrier to showing Christ’s love, we’ve missed the point entirely. As Jesus said, the greatest commandments are to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40).

In our churches and communities today, we often face situations where our doctrinal positions conflict with showing compassion and building relationships. This is particularly evident in how we respond to LGBTQIA+ individuals. As an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church and an ally, I’ve witnessed firsthand the devastating damage done by prioritizing dogma over love and inclusion. The recent positive changes in the UMC regarding LGBTQIA+ inclusion represent a step towards prioritizing relationships over outdated interpretations of doctrine.

Similarly, we see this tension in how we treat migrants, including those who are undocumented. Christ’s command to welcome the stranger often conflicts with political ideologies that have seeped into church doctrine. We must ask ourselves: are we more concerned with enforcing human-made borders or with showing Christ’s borderless love?

This extends to how we treat people of other nations and faiths. Do we allow our national or religious identity to create barriers, or do we follow Christ’s example of crossing cultural and religious boundaries to show love and compassion?

In these moments, we must ask ourselves: Are we prioritizing our dogma over our relationships? Are we more concerned with being right than with showing Christ’s love? The answer to these questions will determine whether we truly keep Christ in “Christian.”

Let us strive to follow Christ’s example of radical love and compassion. May we hold our beliefs with humility, always ready to extend grace and understanding to others. Like Luther, may we be willing to challenge harmful dogmas when they conflict with the core message of God’s love and mercy.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
“Doctrine is nothing but the skin of truth set up and stuffed.” – Henry Ward Beecher

PRAYER
God, help us to hold our beliefs with humility and to always prioritize love and compassion in our relationships with others. May we never let our dogma become a barrier to showing Your love to those around us. Guide us in discerning when to stand firm in our convictions and when to extend grace and understanding. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Devotion written by Rev. Todd R. Lattig with the assistance of Perplexity AI.