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Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Scot McKnight is blogging through Alan Hirsch’s new book, Forgotten Ways. Hirsch chronicles his experience with starting a church that turned out attractional (where you bring in consumers) and then the changes that had to be made to start one that would turn out participatory (where people produce as opposed to consume).
Scot gives a good synopsis for people like me who’d rather have the cliff notes - and then decide if I want the whole enchilada.
Here’s a very good post (in my opinion) which demonstrates a careful and honest discussion of homosexuality. Jamie shows that it is possible to have convictions, to believe in having real rooted-in-God convictions, and to also be humble and kind.
Unfortunately, it seems to me that for some only an in-your-face denounce-the-opposition style demonstrates a commitment to truth and morality. Firm belief does not have to be arrogant, intolerant, belligerent, or demeaning of others or their beliefs.
We need to always remember the gentleness of Jesus with those in profound sin. His sharpest denunciation was for the morally upright (truly unright!) people who saw themselves as set apart from “sinners.”
I believe that we should extrapolate this demeanor and apply it to other situations such as dialogue between Christians from different historical traditions, interaction between Christians and Jews, Muslims, Hindus, etc.
