I have been doing a bit of thinking over the Easter break. The CofE is, some say, in a time of crisis and accelerating to schism. Some people are acting in certain ways, some in others, most in direct opposition and all convinced personally that they are right in the eyes of God.

As someone who can see both sides of the situation, and as someone who is passionate about people being able to connect with God relevantly, I find it hard to understand how we have got to this situation. How have we, as a church, ended up as each others throats.

It would seem to come down to our belief. When we say we have orthodox beliefs I find myself asking; ‘yes, but does that mean we just believe the correct stuff, or is it not more about doing the right stuff?’ There is my question, and the issue I find myself struggling with at the moment.

Is it more important to believe the right things, or is it more important to do the right things? It is a question that has my mind whirring.

I think of the Pharisees that have been in my mind over Easter. They certainly knew all the rules. They were ‘orthodox’ in their beliefs and observed every rule that was there. The did not seem, though, to be able to grasp the reality of God’s love and got extremely angry with a Jesus who tried to point this out to them. Their lack of compassion for others prevented them from experiencing the reality of God’s love for them.

Today, do we get too bound up in believing the right thing? Has the evangelical world become so scared of making a mistake that we have to ensure we believe all the right things before we go out and do the right things.

My mind also goes to the disciples. They were so confused a lot of the time! Even right at the centre of Easter we see them in utter chaos and confusion, they do not know what they believe, yet they still manage to do the right things!

I ask myself if I am becoming stagnated due to my thoughts over my beliefs when I should be getting the message of love out there. Certainly, my church, again, seems to be allowing itself to be deflected from its mission yet again which I find incredibly frustrating.

So, what is the answer … to believe or do, as it does not seem possible to be able to do both in everyone’s eyes at the moment?