A community can state that it's identity is defined narrowly by a large number of specific beliefs.
A community can state that it's identity is defined broadly by a small number of general beliefs.
Heartland could be a strange creature. We aspire to be a community of communities that span both those previously stated possible stances. Is such an aspiration achievable? Not without a great deal of grace and trust.
For myself, I started my spiritual journey with a narrow definition of “Christian” requiring a great many specific beliefs and behaviours. I have never stopped traveling away from that starting point, though it took me a few decades to realise that Traveler was exactly who I am. Today I am less concerned about my Christian identity, or any other person's brand label, and more interested in truth and love, honesty and compassion, trust and generosity and the people aspiring to live those qualities.
On the mystic side, the person I meet God in is Jesus. When I turn my awareness to my spiritual aspect I find myself sitting on Jesus' knee, my head resting on his chest, He is, to me, brother and father. When I look into His face I see that He sees me completely and embraces me absolutely, and always has. I cannot imagine, looking into that truth, that such absolute acceptance includes me but excludes others. God has, always, accepted us all.
You may start to grasp that the spiritual community I see myself as a member of is very broad indeed. It is fair to say Humanity is my Church.
Mikel O Azure.
