Lately on his blog, Donald Miller has talked about civil dialogue, how having the right theology doesn't make you a Christian, and why correct doctrine is only half of what's important. This is something that has weighed heavily on me for quite a while.
As someone who is heavily reformed, I tend to take the arrogant Calvinistic approach to theology, constantly critiquing people's views and pointing out the errors in the way the think about God. That being said, I have also found it in myself to really appreciate groups or individuals who effectively communicate the Kingdom to the world.
In one of his posts, Donald Miller says "We commonly believe that the Evil One wants us to teach bad theology, and I suppose he does. But what he wants to do more is to have us teach right theology in a way that devalues human beings, insults and belittles them, and so sets them against the loving message of God." That sounds like someone straight from The Screwtape Letters (which I am reading by the way).
In my experience, I cannot deny the absolute validity of this idea. But what to do with it--do we abandon correct doctrine for the nuanced idea of "just loving people?" I think not. But I do think there is room for some preliminary bending of our of steadfastly stubborn grasping to it.
You see, when Christ came to earth, the two things he did was love/serve people, and spread the truth/correct their view of God and how they should relate to him. Some denominations nail the loving and serving half, but are weak on the theology (in my opinion). Many reformed believers, on the other hand, nail the theology (and don't we know it) but fall horribly short from our brothers and sisters in the "to look after orphans and widows in their distress" part.
I think what it really boils down to is that we really need to realize that methodology is part of the message (something Miller gets at in this post), if not most of the message. Because no matter how true something is, the methodology is what people more often pay attention to. If we present the right truth in a way that affirms rather than detracts, and honestly and humbly attempt to consider other points of view, I think it will make Jesus smile a little more, and maybe even chuckle.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
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I read this on Saturday then heard this verse in our sermon on Sunday.
ReplyDeleteCol 4: 5-6 "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."
The key thing to me is 'Seasoned with Salt'. Too much Salt (preaching correct doctrine) can make the people reject your whole conversation. A conversation 'Full of grace' but 'seasoned with salt' will allow your conversation to be taken in and digested which gives the Holy Spirit the opportunity to work on the person's heart.
You also have to be aware that there are many Very Godly people who are on Both sides of some of the issues you may hold near and dear. I think it is important to be firm in your speech about the most important things 'One Lord, One faith...' (Eph 4) and more gracious about other things that may or may not be able to be resolved completely this side of heaven.