Fostering Community In Spite of Culture Wars in the Church
Kirstin Vander Giessen-Reitsma in Q Ideas For The Common Good opines that culture wars in the church are not over and "contemporary political and religious rhetoric is tearing our communities apart, from the nation to the family, and mangling the missional commitments of Christian institutions." She further notes, "the growing animosity among Christians who all claim devotion to Jesus Christ can make the church a hard place to be these days."
Kristin's call is for pastors and teachers to "listen with gentleness and compassion, and then speak with conviction and humility, that members of our community might be changed." I agree.
I also like Steve's response: "the worst of heresies is breaking fellowship", suggesting that we pledge ourselves, first and foremost, to our friendship in Christ"
I also like Steve's response: "the worst of heresies is breaking fellowship", suggesting that we pledge ourselves, first and foremost, to our friendship in Christ"
Quoting the medieval words of Aelred of Rievaulx: "In friendship are joined honor and charm, truth and joy, sweetness and good-will, affection and action. And all these take their beginning from Christ, advance through Christ, and are perfected in Christ"
photo by RegisLearning via Flickr
Posted by Rick at 8/6/2011 10:44 AM 
Categories: Community
Tags: culture wars friendship compassion church
Categories: Community
Tags: culture wars friendship compassion church
OK, I'll bite. But what if the commitment to friendship compromises the mission? Might friendship even look different than sharing the same denominational tag, especially if it compromises the mission? I would suggest that the foundation of our friendship is our communion in the Triune, missional God. Subsequently, if we have fundamentally different views of who this God is and what He's calling us to do, our friendships will inevitably also look different than, let's say, the best of friends at times--and more like a mutual respect.
Reply to this