I was talking with Kathy the other night and she brought up a really interesting point. We were discussing personal training and exercise in particular, but I think the point can be applied to anything. She pointed out that mankind has this innate tendency to take Truth and bastardize it. For example in personal training… You read one article that tells you that optimum results can be obtained with a particular regimen, and another article that claims the same results with an entirely contrary regimen. The truth is that for most people that aren’t competitive athletes, basic activity where your heart rate get going, and some sort of activity that involves the use of strength is all you need to stay healthy. Complex dieting strategies and weight loss plans just complicate the simple rule that in order to lose weight, you just expend more calories than you ingest. All the other junk you read is just a way for people to elevate themselves, to distinguish themselves.

In our discussion at church the next morning, one of our ordained members unwittingly elaborated on this point as it relates to Christianity. He pointed out that in James 3 James advises that not many should presume to be teachers, yet what is the ‘ultimate’ expression of our service to God? … to become a pastor and what do pastors do? … teach, and how do you distinguish yourself as a good teacher? … by having something new to say, a different take, a new look something that hasn’t been said before. Now what is the result after 2000 years of this? Baggage.

Teachers, pastors, theologians and authors have interpreted, added and piled on Truth in order to distinguish themselves. And as time progresses, these ‘distinguishing’ ways of deciphering truth has led to faction, fracture, denomination, war and even hatred until eventually we end up with the theological mess we have today.

With the advent of mass commercialization today, authors, radio preachers, TV preachers have taken this to an all time extreme. Not only are they driven by the innate pride of being ‘distinguished’, but the are further driven to ‘find something new’ by the almighty dollar. Pastors are guilty too… many of today’s denominations are nothing more than Labor Unions for the pastorate. Negotiating salaries and benefits, providing for the optimum career track … how do you earn the best perks… by having the most distinguished baggage.