My own spiritual journey has led me to the somewhat troubling realization that at the heart of Jesus’ message, at the very core of Christianity itself, is not concern for right doctrine or proper faith. Our Lord Jesus couldn’t have cared less if we sprinkled our baptism or dunked 'em deep. I don’t think it mattered then and I don’t believe it matters today to Jesus if I pray with carefully crafted poems or wildly exuberant exhortations. Whether I’m a Lutheran, a Methodist, a Catholic, a Jew, a Muslim, a Buddhist, a Hindu, a struggling agnostic or a blissed out charismatic didn’t matter then and doesn’t matter now. What matters is compassion. What matters is whether I stopped on the side of the road.

I love to talk theology. I thank God daily for a job that allows me the joy of study and discourse, reading and writing about the subtleties and intricacies of this faith of ours but it all means absolutely nothing without compassion. Without compassion it is a house built upon sand.

It is for this reason that I have come to the liberating realization that sisters and brothers can follow the Christ without being Christian. This God whose name is compassion can be honored and served by people who have never heard of Yahweh or Moses, Mary or Jesus. This God can even be honored and served by atheistic Samaritans.

You can take Jesus’ word for it.