Wherever there is unity in diversity, then we are free to be ourselves; it cannot be done in isolation; we need each other.
~ Madeleine L'Engle
~ Madeleine L'Engle
There is a strange beauty in the world wide web. A few days ago I posted about my struggles with understanding the reformed perspective. Yesterday, Amy (a frequent visitor to my blog, and an intriguing blogger as well) posted a diverse yet encouraging response.
Is there space for differing perspectives in the Body of Christ?
As finite creatures, it is ineludible.
Rachel Held Evans also stirred some leaves yesterday, with her post Ten Things I'm Not "Ready to Give an Answer" About:
I’ve come to believe that the key to the survival of my faith has been a willingness to say, “I don’t know”- both to myself and to others who are asking. Having been taught by apologists and theologians that such a response represents weakness, I am continually surprised by how much strength and hope I find in embracing it.Sometimes the blogosphere can seem like a courtroom protest, with both sides screaming to be heard. However, in it's most beautiful times, it can give off the appearance of gathering together around the communion table. Those are the times that keep me in this (pseudo) place.
(more on the icon)
4 comments:
Hi Kim! I, too, was very intrigued by your blog post a few days ago on reformed theology - especially so since I'm... well, reformed (or Calvinistic or whatever label one might wish to use here). I have been for 7 years now.
The funny thing is that Calvinism was not on my radar at all when we were at college. How did I miss that?? :)
There is room for both reformed and not-reformed in the body of Christ. The criteria for becoming a part of God's family is not ascribing to a certain theological agenda, but repentance and faith in Jesus.
Ok, back to lurking... maybe. :)
ha - yeah, and since we have been so often confused as one in the same, we know firsthand about unity in diversity!
Lurk away! (though comments & conversation are strongly encouraged!)
Yes, we would be known as "exhibit A." :)
That quote from Rachel Held Evans is very apropos - just last night the question of God's sovereignty vs. our free will came up at our weekly community group. And the very wise Dorothy that I mentioned in my post said that whenever she hears that someone claim to understand predestination, she knows for a fact that they have it wrong, because this is the kind of truth that cannot be understood. The best we can do is hold all the truths we know in tension, like Rachel, say "I don't know" and then get about the business of loving and serving.
(Also, ditto on your comments about the internet - I often think of walking away entirely, and then blogs like this one talk me out of it.)
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