Need new colours
30 July 2007 - 16 אב 5767 by Huw
Thanks to a note from John (who
blogged yesterday!) I clicked through to this discussion on Bp Seraphim’s LiveJournal. The retired OCA Bishop had some comments on a quote from Sara Miles’ book, Take This Bread which I thought were a little beyond the pale and he and I had a wonderful conversation (it’s down towards the bottom of the comments on that page - I’m user “wwabbit” on LiveJournal).
In the conversation I said, “It is Christ around whom the community gathers, not a political position. From that center I find them to be very welcoming of red and blue people, although it tends to be one sort (of red and blue) who can stand the mix and one sort (again, of red and blue) who can’t. Perhaps we need to find two different colours?”
That seems to be the point - there are some of both sides that rather like both sides - even when they disagree. We can have interesting discussions and lubricate both sides of the secular political process, may the best colour win - the other will win next time. Then there are some that take disagreement to mean something rather a bit more traumatic. I’m working hard on not fitting into that last front on issues of non-violence, even though I’ve no problem hanging out with Christians who differ from my POV on issues of sex. To be honest sometimes I have a hard time understanding people who say they agree with me.
Where do we enforce agreement and where do we allow disagreement to create and force disunity?
Could the difference you pointed out to the bishop be partially due to a genuine love for those with whom you disagree? (Respect is just too weak a word for what Jesus expressed.) A secondary issue is whether the people with whom you agree/disagree are severely misleading others or not.
The few times that Jesus was angry all seemed to have to do with those whose teaching and practice was so damaging the Body that He had to protect the sheep or risk losing some.
Interestingly enough, he was not angry with “simple” sinners, no matter how grievious. And he was saddened, but not angry, by those who chose not to respond to his call. “Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how oft would I have . . . .”
But, let us not forget that He also warned that there were sheep and goats, wheat and tares. There really are eventual and eternal consequences.