The PC(USA) is not in a crisis. Christianity has experienced discord and conflict from its very inception. While the intensity of our disagreements and the things we disagree about may distress us, God calls us to persevere in our struggle together to discern his way forward. His call for each of us in such situations is:
- to express our understanding of God’s will to one another,
- to listen with an open heart and an attitude of respect,
- to assume that we are all acting with integrity and a desire to honor God,
- to realize that disagreements over issues, even those very dear to us, do not destroy our common bond through Christ, and
- to submit to our common understanding of God’s will for us, even when it differs from our individual convictions.
In the personal, pastoral, and academic aspects of my life, I have been amazed at how God reconciled seemingly intractable situations. The Holy Spirit is at work in our church and will guide us through our struggles as we open ourselves to him.
1 comment:
I like what you've written here. It's very close to my own yearnings on this subject.
Post a Comment