Pluralism

While my first reaction to this word when used in the context of Christian theology is to recoil in terror, I have heard it used in a way that is enlightening. And that enlightenment came from a source that I did not expect.

The discussion was about the dichotomy of the “we have it right and everyone else is wrong” and “to each his own” ways of thinking about religion and God. My source suggested that there is a middle ground that looks like pluralism to the “my way or the highway” crowd, but approximates what he believes is the real teaching of the Bible. This middle ground is not concerned with arguing the heathen into belief in Christ, chanting religious slogans, or proclaiming judgment upon sinners. It is tasked to live as Christ lived on the earth. It is to carry out the Great Commandment — love God and love your neighbor as yourself.

Returning to Focus

Sort of been MIA for a while. Much of source of material has changed. For various reasons, we are now part of a different Bible church (I have nothing but praise for our former assembly). And I have not found the usual background of postmodern/emerging/emergent material lately.

Oh, it is still there. Mars Hill (Seattle, not Grand Rapids) caught-up in controversy over excessive discipline of members. John Piper declaring Christianity to rightly be a male-dominated religion.

But these just have not gotten my juices flowing.

But while I definitely consider myself in the Bible church wing of the evangelical camp, there is something beginning to nag at me about evangelicalism as a whole. The problem is not that I think that their positions are wrong. Rather that they are out of balance. But I don't know how to think about it because I do not know how to arrive at any kind of more "correct" balance.