The recent political debates over who is Christian and who is not, or who belongs to a cult and who does not, reminds me of Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels, wherein Gulliver finds himself drawn into a war between the Big Endians and the Little Endians.

He learns that the conflict began when an emperor commanded all his subjects to break their eggs on the small end because he cut his finger breaking the egg at the large end. A huge rebellion arises and 11,000 people choose to die rather than submit to the new law.

The war continues because each side asserts: “That all true believers shall break their eggs at the convenient end.” Both factions believe that the “convenient end” means whichever end their side chooses to be correct.

In other words, the Little Endians thought the correct way was to break the egg at the little end, and would die to forward their cause. The Big Endians would die to defend their assertion that the big end of the egg was the correct way.

Any onlooker could see the absurdity of the argument and the futility of the war, but those involved could not see the humor or the message.

Long ago, when Jesus was on the earth, His new doctrine and His followers looked like a cult to the Romans and the stalwart Jewish leaders. They were so determined that this cult was going to destroy their government and their way of life that they killed not only Jesus, but as many of His followers as they could.

Christians were thrown into the arena with lions to be devoured. They were driven and persecuted until a political leader, Constantine, was converted to this new cult and made it the religion of the government. Then it was unheard of to be anything but Christian.

Christianity was no longer a cult, but a true religion. Those who did not believe or went against the church were put to death. This new religion was the only religion, until King Henry VIII – who as king, for his own purpose, started the Church of England.

Men like Martin Luther, William Tindal and others rebelled against the church and were put to death for their beliefs. No one sat down and asked them, “What do you really believe? Why are you trying to make the Bible available to the common man?”

These martyrs were simply branded heretics for breaking from the status quo.

The world owes much to these men. Their breaking from the norm and creating a “cult” of different thinkers gave us the Bible. If it had not been for them, we would still be getting our religious information through the filter of the priests.

Because of the gallant efforts of these reformers, there are many Christian churches who are allowed to break their proverbial “egg” on whichever end they choose. Their patterns of worship may be different, but all are humble, truth-seeking Christians who want to come to Christ, and they all want to be free to worship as they please.

They do not want someone to destroy their faith by trying to convince them that they are wrong. They want to be able to add to the truth they hold dear. They want to be led, not pushed. They want to be understood, not persecuted.

When Jesus was teaching the people, Jewish leaders came to Him and asked Him a question to try to trap Him in His words, but they never asked Him questions that would lead to understanding. They wanted to be right more than they wanted to be instructed.

I suspect they listened to the critics more than they listened to Jesus’ followers. They had already made up their minds, before they ever talked to Him. As a result, they killed the man who could have given them the political and personal freedom they wanted so much.

I’m afraid times haven’t changed too much. We are still ready to brand and label rather than seek true understanding. We seem to be afraid of the truth.

For example, if you have heard gossip about your neighbor, it would be better to go to the neighbor rather than his enemy to get true answers. If you ask with the intent to understand, you will be able to get the facts.

You do not have to accept beliefs, but at least you will have the tools to make an informed decision. Honest and truth-seeking people will go to the source, not the commentary or the critics.

The term Christian is loosely used today. According to the online dictionary, a Christian is more than just a word. Http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Christian – Professing belief in Jesus as Christ or following the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.

If you are to be called a Christian, you must manifest Jesus’ teachings in your life. You must know His doctrine and try to live it. I think He would be saddened by the name-calling and mudslinging of those who profess to be His followers.

He was a promoter of peace, not a promoter of contention. The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5: 3-12) is a good example of the way He wanted us to treat those who are different from us.

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Those who are poor in spirit are people who do not have a true understanding, but they are humble enough to seek for it in the right place. They will find the kingdom of heaven, because that is the result of a diligent search.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. People who mourn are teachable; they hurt and are seeking comfort. The Lord will give them comfort His way. Likewise, Christians will give comfort, not criticism.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Meek or patient and long-suffering people will have the things of the earth to bless their lives.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Those who seek truth with the same hunger they have for food and water will be filled with the light of God, which will help them obtain truth. Not all truth is in one church building, existing even outside of churches.

There is truth in science, mathematics and astronomy. Truth is everywhere, and you must be willing to give up old perceptions to embrace new awareness. Truth is absolute and unchangeable, but our ability to understand truth is ever-changing.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. What we send out in mercy or love will be returned to us. In fact, “casting bread upon the water” (Ecclesiastes 11:1) applies here. We cannot send out good or evil without somehow getting it back.

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. The pure in heart are people who have truly become like Jesus. They have no malice or envy. They simply want to bless others. They have no desire to do evil.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. A peacemaker takes an argument and turns it into understanding. A peacemaker seeks to smooth hurts and offences. They are called the children of God because that is exactly who they have become by the choices they have made in their lives.

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Taking persecution is not passive. It is gentle concern and love. It is avoiding an argument because it hurts the spirit of the other person and wounds again the Savior who suffered on the cross for every sin man has committed.

True Christians stand with courage in the face of ridicule without lashing back, because the argument cannot happen if two do not participate.

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. To revile means to assail with abusive language. Christ had many reasons to revile, but He never did. He was accused falsely many times, but He never lost his temper. Even when He cleansed the temple, He was in total control.

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Those who are able to become like Christ are true Christians. They will gain their reward in this life as well as in heaven to come.

There will always be the “Big Endians” and the “Little Endians” who will fight over semantics of religious beliefs. They will even revile and come to blows, but true followers of Christ will act like Christians who look at the heart, not the label.

They will seek and embrace truth wherever they find it because they seek the blessing of eternal life with Christ, who is the source of all truth. PD