A flock of sheep grazing peacefully in golden light, symbolising the pastoral role of church leaders and the balance between dogma and pastoral practice.

Dogma vs. Pastoral Practice. Finding a Faithful Balance – Episode 4 | FHLM

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Holding to Truth. Leading with Compassion.

Dogma vs. pastoral practice isn’t just a theological tension—it’s a lived reality in many churches today.

I’ve read story after story—on Facebook, in articles, in books—of people who left the Church not because they stopped believing in Jesus, but because of how they were treated by those who claimed to represent Him. And I empathise deeply, because I’ve experienced similar pain myself.

Churches that were meant to be havens of grace sometimes became places of fear, shame, or rejection. In their defence of truth, some communities lost touch with love. In their desire for purity, some forgot mercy.

And yet, at the same time, I’ve seen the opposite too. Churches that become so focused on being “welcoming” that they’re no longer willing to say what they believe. Communities afraid to draw any line—even where Scripture does—out of fear of offending.

So how do we find the balance?

This episode is about that tension: between the unchanging truth of the Gospel and the lived reality of those who are suffering, questioning, or scarred. It’s not about choosing one over the other. It’s about learning to hold both.

Because if Jesus is full of grace and truth (John 1:14, NJB), then His Church must be too.

When Belief (dogma) Becomes a Barrier

One of the dangers in many church cultures is the elevation of dogma to the point where people become secondary. I don’t mean that truth doesn’t matter—it does. In fact, that was the entire point of Episode 2. But when doctrine becomes a weapon instead of a witness, something goes very wrong.

Paul reminds us, “Even if I have all knowledge… but do not have love, I am nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:2, NJB).

Love isn’t the opposite of truth. Love is the proper context for truth.

Over the years, I’ve watched churches proudly draw boundaries in the name of orthodoxy—while neglecting the very people those boundaries affect. I’ve seen doctrinal statements upheld with precision, even as hurting souls walked away unnoticed.

I’ve also witnessed churches shift so far in the other direction that they begin to affirm everything and challenge nothing. But Jesus never promised safe neutrality. He promised truth that sets us free (John 8:32).

The Early Church Knew the Tension

From the very beginning, the Church had to wrestle with this balance. In Acts 15, the early leaders gathered in Jerusalem to decide how to welcome Gentile believers. Some argued they must be circumcised and follow the full law of Moses. Others insisted that grace was enough.

The final decision was this: “It has been decided by the Holy Spirit and by ourselves not to impose on you any burden beyond these essentials…” (Acts 15:28, NJB).

That’s not compromise. That’s discernment.

They upheld the core truths of the Gospel—while removing unnecessary barriers. They didn’t abandon doctrine. But they let love shape how it was applied.

Pastoral Ministry is Not Doctrinal Abandonment

Pastoral care is not about sidestepping truth to make people feel good. It’s about meeting people where they are—with truth, yes, but also with tenderness.

Jesus met the Samaritan woman as she was—not to affirm her brokenness, but to redeem her story (John 4). He told the woman caught in adultery, “Go away, and do not sin any more”—but only after protecting her from those who wanted to stone her (John 8:11, NJB).

Truth without mercy leads to legalism. Mercy without truth leads to confusion. The Gospel calls us to hold both.

I’ve found that when people say “I’m struggling with this issue,” what they often mean is “Can I still belong? Am I still loved?” And the Church’s answer cannot be vague.

Yes, we uphold truth. But we do it from a posture of humility, not superiority. Paul writes: “You must correct opponents with gentleness… for God may give them a change of heart” (2 Timothy 2:25, NJB).

Let the Church Be a Place of Return

There’s a difference between excusing sin and welcoming the sinner. Jesus never excused sin—but He always created space for return.

The prodigal son came home rehearsing a speech of shame. The father didn’t even let him finish. “Quick!” he said. “Bring out the best robe” (Luke 15:22, NJB).

The Church should be that father.

I’m not calling for theological minimalism. I’m calling for pastoral realism. Because the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine for the one. Because doctrine must be clothed in love. Because orthodoxy that crushes the bruised reed is not the way of Christ.

Truth Matters Most When It Meets the Broken

When we stand before God, we won’t be judged on how well we defended our church policies. We’ll be asked how we fed the hungry, clothed the naked, welcomed the stranger, and loved the least (Matthew 25:35–40).

“Blessed are the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them” (Matthew 5:7, NJB).

I’m not saying we abandon doctrinal fidelity. I’m saying that doctrine must never outpace compassion. That our convictions must lead us to greater love, not less.

Because every person who walks into a church brings a story. Some are tired. Some are angry. Some have been hurt in Jesus’ name.

And what they need isn’t a diluted Gospel—but a Gospel lived in full.

Living the Balance

To be faithful is not to be inflexible.

To be pastoral is not to be permissive.

To be the Church is to walk that narrow road—between truth and grace, between conviction and compassion, between holding fast and reaching out.

Not perfectly. But faithfully.

So, when we say “Dogma matters,” we also say “People matter.” And when we speak truth, we do it with tears in our eyes and welcome in our arms.

Because that’s how Christ did it.

Let’s hold fast to the Gospel.
Let’s reach out with compassion.
Let’s become a Church where truth walks hand in hand with love.

✍️ Writer’s Note

This article reflects my personal journey—shaped by Scripture, pastoral experience, and a deep longing to rediscover a faith that holds both conviction and compassion. It’s not about choosing between truth and love, but about embodying both in our walk with Christ.

Read about this series, here: Returning to the Table: A Call to Authentic Christianity.

To begin this series, start with Episode 1: Simplicity and Community – Lessons from the Early Church.

To explore the importance of doctrinal clarity, see Episode 2: Doctrine Matters – Why the Creeds Still Count.

For insights on living out Christ’s teachings, refer to Episode 3: Sermon on the Mount – The Truth We Forgot.

📚 References

🔍 Further Reading & Supporting Perspectives

📚 Further Resources from FHLM

If you’ve ever felt torn between holding firm in faith and reaching out with compassion—or if you’ve been hurt by legalism dressed as faith—FHLM offers free resources to help you walk a path of integrity, truth, and love:

Visit our full library here: FHLM Resource Library

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