Learnings
This blog has been interesting. Here is what I've learned.
1. There are easily in America today, two distinct ways of seeing information, generally labeled modern and postmodern. It still amazes me that on any one post, two people can see the issue from distinctly opposite points of view, and for the most part, can't even imagine how the other person is seeing the issue. This includes myself. This isn't true on every issue, but does show itself on many issues.
2. Generally, as a group, we are not very good at creating a dialogue between opposing views. This really concerns me because it seems like a key for us to be a healthy unified body. It seems like a key in our churches for the same reason to bring renewal and health.
3. It is my somewhat subjective opinion, but much of what has happened here is that people have become a bit fearful to express their thoughts and/or become too irritated to continue the conversation. Certainly not everyone, but there have been some fairly obvious disappearances.
A little over a year ago, I made the first post here.
Wayne Boyer, Executive Director of the Churches of God General Conference, said in his weekly "It's Friday but Sunday is coming..." newsletter that efforts were being made to create a dialogue for an emerging/postmodern conversation in the CGGC. I offered to create this blog to provide such a space. Wayne said other efforts will also be made to create such a space. I'll keep this space up as long as it is useful and fruitful.
As I reread this, no other space was ever created. Second, I wonder how useful and fruitful it has become.
posted by Brian at 8:35 PM
8 Comments:
I think this blog is important. Because we're trying! We're trying to communicate with each other. We are trying to listen to each other. To give up trying simply because it's too hard or we're not good at it would be a tragedy! The conversation must start somewhere with someone!
The conversation has been started. If our local pastors cannot pray their way through disagreements and uncomfortable situations, then our churches have no hope.
Sorry to lay the burden at the pastors' feet, but I believe it. You are our leaders. You are the ones who are modeling behavior and thought processes. This is worth it.
I have been impressed with both sides. Things have gotten heated. Irritations have arose and some have wisely stepped out because they knew their limits. I hope they re-enter the conversation and not let past irritations keep them from conversation. But everyone has conversed from the motivation of love for people and love for God.
Unfortunately, my personality is the type that can be easily irritated--but I keep coming back because I want to stay in this conversation. It's important. I want to be a part of what God wants to do here.
What have I learned?
That God speaks to people. And He doesn't always share the same information with them as He has shared with me. Which means I need to be talking with others who don't have the same information as me so that I can have a whole picture of what God is saying. That's the body of Christ!
Actually, I should be listening to others, not talking. God would be impressed if I could do less talking and more listening I'm sure :)
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Brian,
You have asked how useful and fruitful this blog is.
I listen more than speak. Yet I hope you realize how grateful I am to be able to do just that. You all have helped me see things I was not aware of. Some comments I want to shout for joy as I read, others I want to cry for the hurt they bring. Such is life, and I don't mean by that fatalism, there is good and bad in life.
The comments help me define what I really believe,not necessarily change them. Maybe I should jump in more but I don't read e-mail everyday and the subjects often change before I get to them.
My excuses
by the way what I am reading now is Foxes book of Martyrs,for the first time. I will never understand how in the name of Christ anyone could treat someone else so cruelly. It was done because one group demanded everyone believe exactly as they did or die.
Satan loves to take our differences and to magnify them with hate. But we are not ignorant of his schemes. Different of not ( & I am different) I will still, to the best of my ablility, express any differences with the love of Christ lest I become a "militant and brutal" defender of the faith.
So to all of you who take part and write on this blog, thank you for being who you are and loving Christ.
Phil
Ft. Scott, Ks.
I have been preparing a message on 1 Cor. 13 this week but besides the word studies and commentaries I had other homework to do. I had to apply the text to my own life.
One of the areas considered was my blogging this week. My own evaluation is that I could have been more gracious and that will be my commitment in the future.
That being said I want to add that I appreciate this blog. Reading it I feel somewhat like Rip Van Winkle (I am almost as old as he is is) waking from sleep and finding a the world has changed. Not that I have been sleeping but rather after many years of ministry I found a place to read and discuss different views of church and ministry--a forum not available to me before.
Of course if we are trying to create a forum for dialogue I have to be careful not to put up barriers to dialogue.
Thanks Brian for your work in getting this started.
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Brian wondered how useful and fruitful this blog has become...
I took a peek through the archives and I have to say, I am embarrassed reading some of my comments and posts. No one has made more of a fool of themselves than me; so if nothing else, I appreciate that ya'll have allowed me to do so (without feeling the need to point it out). I would like to think I am learning.
I always enjoyed that this blog never seemed to have the bickering and confrontational tone that so many others have. I know some people like that, and I hope you don't mind if I don't get too involved there.
I'm sure I have offended some of you along the way, and if I have, I am sorry. I appreciate being allowed to post here, and I hope the blog continues.
Y'all,
The second reason I come here is because despite the differences of opinion, you treat each other like you assume that you love God and each other. You get irritated, you fight, you make up.
Even more that though, the primary reason I come is because you agree to disagree. All the other blogs I visit are nice and polite, with masks intact. I hate masks, and I love the fact that y'all don't mind taking a stand for what you believe in and disagree. Not to say that you are always willing to say exactly what you think, or even sometimes, should have really said exactly what you were thinking. But who cares? We all do that. This conversation more than most, seems real to me, with real people. And I really appreciate that.
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