Monday, April 26, 2010

The "Radical Moderate"

I have been going back and forth in my mind about whether or not to start a new blog.  Whoever is reading my thoughts on this blog, I hope you can give me your wisdom.
When I have discussed it with friends and colleagues, they think I'm just talking about the immediate conflicts within our denomination about our school.  I am not.  I am deeply concerned about my denomination, but frankly Erskine is only a small part of it. 
What concerns me within our fellowship more is an erosion of tolerance and civility.  Let's face it, the ARP's are not significantly different in our doctrines than many conservative Presbyterian denominations like the PCA, OPC, and others. We all use basically the same catechism and confession. What set us apart was the way in which we held to them.  I used to characterize us as "loving conservatives." It was not what we held but the graciousness by which we held them.  For years, I have suggested to people that the ARP church was a good example of Christian love and charity, that they knew the difference between disagreement and contention. 
Today, I have come to question whether this is true. 
Oh, we make occasional gestures in that direction. We don't tend to yell at our meetings, and we address one another with a Southern civility. This is not what I mean.  It was not how we said it, but what we did that made us civil.  You can put sugar on a bullet, but that doesn't make it friendly. 
One of the problems I think is in my own perception.  In my naivete, I did not realize that what I saw as good was not seen that way by others. Where I saw grace, they saw weakness. Where I saw tolerance, they saw compromise.  Besides, I was told, graciousness and tolerance are not written anywhere in our bylaws as being one of our distinctivies.
Well, I for one would like to see that change.  I'm tired of seeing extremists and hotheads drive our collective conversation.  I would like to see the ARP church go on record as saying that we will respect those who disagree with us,  and treat them not as enemies, but as children of God. 
So what I have been praying about is starting a blog, and encouraging others to contribute.  I would call the blog "the Radical Moderate."  I would want to publish articles not only by myself, but by others which touched on the subject of upholding a community of mutual respect.
Here's what stops me from doing it.  First, the realization that in our current conflict that people might misinterpret what I am saying.  I've read some of the blogs and Facebook threads and realize that emotions on both sides are hot, and the temperature is rising. Any attempt to start a new conversation at this point might degenerate into the same tired arguments being shouted back and forth.  I also am concerned that such an effort might be misconstrued as being simply people holding hands and singing "Kum Bay Yah."  Standing for mutual respect and public concern does not have to be wimpy, if we take it seriously.   In fact if I could put one picture on the blog, it would be of Samson bringing down the temple. It seems to me that when we push against both sides, we are the first one to get hit when the roof falls in. 
The guidelines of such a blog would be as follows:
1. No cause is more valuable than the people involved.
2. We will discuss anything, as long as we discuss with mutual love, respect and civility.
3. We will not question the morals or motivations of others,
4. We will not engage in name-calling, marginalizing, or labeling.
5. We will not engage in personal attacks, or denigrate those who disagree.
6. We will seek to encourage the peace and prosperity as well as the purity of the church
7. We will not put down other denominations, but will build up the whole Body of Christ.
So I want your imput.  Should I start the conversation? Is it needed? would it be of assistance to others? 
I hopw you will share your thoughts with me.

2 comments:

  1. Seeing I was in a heated conversation this very morning with someone much more theologically conservative, I'm not in the emotional space to respond; more in the place to react.

    As you know, I'm no longer ARP; I'm Methodist. However, I'm ARP born and ARP bred. It was a sadness to me that I had to leave the denomination to pursue the call that God placed upon me; I was blessed to find a denomination where I can serve and be fruitful.

    If I were to place myself somewhere in the spectrum, I would consider myself an Extreme Moderate Radical Methodist, with Presbyterian leanings. If this were a perfect world, I would get rid of all "haters." If this were a perfect world, I would have each and every one of us treated as a beloved part of God's good creation, made in the image of God. We need to treat each other with dignity and respect.

    Unfortunately, this is not the climate we live in. And there are times my sadness is overwhelming.

    May God have mercy on us all.

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  2. Oh, Bill, I am happily Episcopalian, but I worry about the rancor throughout Christianity, too. It isn't just ARP. We (the holy Catholic Church of the creed) are losing the love that should be distinctive of all Christians.

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