Posted by Kevin Bates Twice in recent times I've been approached via email and through these pages, by people disagreeing with and challenging some of the things I had been saying and writing. On each occasion, I responded respectfully and hoped to engage with the people further to explore the issues, and to clarify our positions. No such luck - it seems that all they were interested in was a confrontation, in which they offered a broadside, and then withdrew to a safe distance!! There was no sense of engagement, of common faith or belonging, or of a desire to seek some understanding. They simply offered a doctrinaire position and that was that. How a person grows, simply spouting ideological absolutes, and imagining that this is good theology, beggars the imagination. Yet increasingly, it seems to be standard fare for the more reactionary, restorationist types of people who are gaining currency in today's church. A good conversation, argument or discussion is more geared for mutual growth and understanding, that the glib one-liners that so many of these people thrive on. That they seem to have credibility in some parts of the church,is a huge concern.
on February 13, 2004, 1:05 pm
I've been a bit bemused recently at the antics of some members of the Church and the manner with which they deal with disagreements over various issues.
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