I cannot speak for the entire presbytery; mine is
but a single voice amidst a chorus of voices. Like any other choir, the one
known as Grand Canyon Presbytery sings in four parts, perhaps more, and strives
for a harmony that will lead others to praise. At least, such is the goal of
our ideal selves. Alas, we are not always our ideal selves and harmony remains
elusive.
This
week the news from Fountain Hills was that eight evangelical churches have
joined in common cause to preach an eight-part sermon series on “Progressive
Christianity: Fact or Fiction?”[i] (Link below)The president of the
ministerial alliance, Bill Good, pastor of Fountain Hills Presbyterian, was
interviewed by Fox News, an interview which went viral; leading progressive
voices weighed in with their dismay that, as it appeared to them, these eight
churches were attacking all progressives. Evangelicals and progressives both
took to social media to offer an opinion for or against what has become a
firestorm of controversy; many within the presbytery, and even a friend from
Tampa, have contacted me personally.
I
cannot speak for the entire presbytery; mine is but a single voice amidst a
chorus of voices. Acknowledging this truth, I feel the need to speak in support
of grace toward one another. The clear and present temptation is to take a
public stand berating another for something one reads or hears on Facebook or
Fox. Let me advise caution and restraint! Instead of reacting, I would prefer
we respond to one another with thoughtful, theological dialogue.
I
cannot speak for the entire presbytery; mine is but a single voice amidst a
chorus of voices. I had coffee on Tuesday morning with Bill Good,[ii] our pastor in Fountain
Hills. Bill assured me that his intent was never to attack anyone else but to
lift up the winsome and compelling nature of the Gospel message; that he
personally makes a distinction between “Progressive Christianity” and
“Christians who think progressively about their faith.” Bill encouraged me, and
I encourage you, to listen to his sermon before forming an opinion about what
was said.[iii](Link below) Further, Bill stated
that he and his colleagues took great pains to ensure that their sermon series
would not be directed at any one person or church but rather was responding to
a particular understanding of faith, a brief introduction to which can be found
here.[iv](Link below) Bill celebrates that
eight, diverse churches were able to agree on something as an expression of the
Body of Christ.
I
cannot speak for the entire presbytery; mine is but a single voice amidst a
chorus of voices. In my response to Bill, I told him that I hear his heart and
that his intent was to bring members of the Fountain Hills community to faith
through the transforming power of the Gospel. I also expressed my opinion that
there were some regrettable messages conveyed; namely, that the distinction between
“Progressive Christianity” and “Christians who think progressively about their
faith” is subtle and rather easy to misconstrue as being an attack against many
of our brothers and sisters within the presbytery and that the title of the
sermon series, though obviously effective as a marketing campaign in that it is
drawing lots of attention, is also easy to misconstrue.
I
cannot speak for the entire presbytery; mine is but a single voice amidst a
chorus of voices. Let me suggest, however, that this can be a watershed moment
for the presbytery, as it raises serious questions about our ability to be in
conversation with one another. This situation could be the “poisoning of the
community well” or “the wake-up call” that
leads us all to examine our own hearts in order to find love and mercy
toward brothers and sisters of differing
expression but the same
conviction to love and serve Jesus Christ.
I cannot speak for the entire
presbytery; mine is but a single voice amidst a chorus of voices. If I may be so bold, I call each one reading
this newsletter to craft a thoughtful, theological articulation of your faith
in which you outline your core convictions of what it means to be a follower of
Jesus. As my friend Wayne Darbonne recently posted on Facebook, “The invitation
of Christianity is not primarily mental assent to religious ideas, it is to
enter a dynamic relationship with a living Person.” What does this dynamic
relationship mean to you? I would be interested in receiving brief, one-page
statements of how you express your faith as a living, relational connection and
dynamic, missional call from the God confessed in Scripture and our
confessions.[v]
Last
month, Tom Lineweaver and Tully Fletcher came to the Leadership Team meeting and
requested that the Leadership Team engage the presbytery in deep, sustained
theological conversation. At the time, I doubted whether their idea was even
possible; I now see that it is necessary.
Searching for oneness in Jesus; can it be found?
Brad Munroe
[ii] I have Bill’s
permission to share our conversation.
[v] Statements can
be emailed to bradmunroe1963@gmail.com. All statements
will be considered public unless I receive written direction to maintain
confidentiality. If you do not want your statement shared with others, please
indicate such in your email.
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