Aug 2, 2012

I Wonder....


The conservatives believe that they are right and that they are on God's side on the questions of sexuality.

The liberals believe that they are right and that they are on God's side on the questions of sexuality.

We, whether we are conservative or liberal or anywhere in between, believe we're so right that when someone doesn't see things the way we see things we can't help but think things like, "How can anyone who professes to love Jesus believe that this could be right?" or "How can anyone who professes to love Jesus Christ be so unloving?"

We believe we're so right about our view of things, that we are certain the other side is wrong.
  • they are wrong in how they view and interpret scripture
  • they are wrong in how they apply scripture
I wonder what it might be like if folks, instead of being so certain of how right they were just simply prayed and insisted, God let your will be done.

I wonder what our church might be like if our prayer was, "God do your will and if I am wrong, change my heart?"

I wonder what it might be like if there were less assertions and condemnations, and a whole lot more of humility and genuine openness that we - conservative, liberal, and everyone in between - could be wrong? So much so that we would be willing to change our views to match what God desires?

I wonder what our church would be like if there was a whole lot more of humility like that?

I wonder what God could do through a church like that?

Whatever you wish God, we will adjust and change to whatever you call us to...

2 comments:

Henry Chambers said...

You wonder, about other things:
"...what it might be like if folks, instead of being so certain of how right they were just simply prayed and insisted, God let your will be done..."
I am afraid the things you wonder are nothing new. I am sure many people in the church do exactly that.
Long ago I concluded that there is no way to prove to myself or anybody else that I am right when I think I am right. All I can do, and have done, is throw myself on the grace of God. It has been part of my daily spiritual discipline for many years, for decades, to pray Psalm 139:23, 24. And I mean it very seriously. I have changed my mind on many a point, thank God and I expect there is more to follow, and that is very fine with me. However, in the process of all this, I also have gotten very strong "here I stand, I can do no other thing" opinions, including on big issues about which we disagree in the PCUSA. Denying that would be fundamentally denying that the Holy Spirit can be trusted to guide me in all truth.
How about the true prophets of God? They often were contradicted by many if not all (see Jeremiah, e.g.)

Unknown said...

Henry, appreciate your comments and thoughts.

What I am responding to are folks in the church who say things like, "If our church doesn't do to leave the PC(USA), I am out," or "If our church leaves the PC(USA), I'm out."

Another way this has been expressing itself is on how volatile and vocal people have been about the entire chick-fil-a issue.

People feel that they are so right that they can bully and say such intolerant things about others.

I am asking for more humility and civility in how we treat others.

As you stated, there does come a time when things are simply wrong and truth needs to be declared. But I pray that we could declare that truth in a way that engenders confession and conversion rather than anger and resentment. I recognize that might not be possible. But I also recognize that we can add fuel to the fire of resentment by how we respond.

James <><