Churches, in my experience, despise change. We exist in part to make changes (that make the gospel a reality here on earth), so it’s a paradox of sorts that one problem facing church is resistance to the very thing we are setting out to do.
Differing positions around non-moral issues, (such as the oncoming doctrinal change at Grace to fully include women in all leadership arenas), surprise no one familiar with church history. However, if anyone desires to stop the dialogue – try the following strategies. Guaranteed to add nothing to the debate, these will always raise anxiety and somehow make all of us feel better – whatever our position.
Top five conversation stoppers…
1. “‘You’ (the other position) are not as committed to the Scriptures as you should be (or as ‘I’ am)…” – Throw this zinger out, and everything will stop as the “other” is left only to protest and defend that which they cannot possibly address in the context.
2. “Just do what the Bible plainly says…” - This sounds so reasonable, because we all agree. And when you say it, you convey that the “other” manipulates the text. Dont’ let on that finding the “plain meaning” takes work. And we all do this work – hermeneutics and exegesis; shhhh, don’t bring this up.
3. “Your position is a ‘slippery slope’ to something even worse…!” – Absolutely the best way to raise group anxiety; sprinkle this logical fallacy around liberally enough and you can stop the discussion dead in it’s tracks. Don’t let any issue stand on its’ own merits.
4. “You are too concerned to be ‘politically correct’, and culture friendly…” – Not too difficult to make this one stick in a time when examples abound. Do not talk about the 20 centuries of dialogue, debate, and difference. It may seem to erode your point.
5. “If Jesus wanted (your position), He would have made it clear…” – Sounds so reasonable doesn’t it? After all, He clearly addressed slavery, and Gentiles, and political parties, and sports, and dogfighting, and aliens, and…oh wait, maybe you shouldn’t spend too much time here. Breaks down pretty quick.
These ought to serve all of us well in gaining the upper hand in any dialogue. If not – well, you just don’t get the plain meaning of this blog…
- bob
bob…you are doing important work for the kingdom…and i dont just mean raising a specific issue…i mean helping a community BE the BODY OF CHRIST – a place where issues can be discussed in the spirit of Christ’s LOVE! im praying for you all!
thanks Pam – it’s great to be together in this life “between the already and the ‘not yet’” eh?