Have you ever had the experience that what you believed didn’t integrate with what you experienced. That which you once held so dear seemed lacking when life jerked it away from it’s comfortable place in your grasp. That is one of the many experiences I have had lately in my life and faith.

There are certain theological beliefs (orthodoxy) and practices (orthopraxy) that I hold and others that I embrace and I think there is a difference in nuance that I want to explain. There are beliefs I embrace which identifies them with something I love, cherish, adore and hold tightly. These things are those that are non-negotiable: importance of the Church and community, theological beliefs such as the Trinity, inerrancy of Scripture or the incarnation of Christ.

There are other beliefs and practices that I hold but not embrace. Holding implies a looser grasp, beliefs that are open for debate and ones that are not as essentially foundational to my faith. These allow me to worship with brothers and sisters in Christ that differ with me on what I hold but agree with what we embrace. These are things like my hermeneutical (fancy name for interpretation) technique for the Book of Revelation, my view on what happens to the elements at communion, how communion is celebrated, whether the creation account was seven literal days or representing God’s good creative work over time, or whether I worship God though contemporary choruses or traditional singing without instruments. These are just a few examples.

Oddly I find, as I grow and mature in my spiritual life, that I embrace less and hold more, but what I do embrace, I am learning to truly embrace – to love and cherish.