Lunch starts off with him apologizing if I am offended by
his having a beer. He knows that I am
thirty plus years clean and sober. It is
simply an acknowledgement of my preference.
My response is to ask why I would be offended by a simple beer – there
is profanity thrown into my answer to add emphasis.
He and I are
occasional lunch mates. As we sit on
opposite sides of the table, we also sit on opposite sides of many political
and theological issues. What is paramount
is our love of the Lord, the thoughtfulness of our positions, and our
understanding that the best we can hope for is to not be wrong.
What is also
paramount is our understanding that we need each other.
I have no problem with divisive politics and theology. We, or at least I, need the opposing view
represented and expressed. I know enough
to know that I do not know enough. I also
am passionate enough in my views that I can be blinded by my passion.
We actually
agree more than we disagree. This would
include understanding that as pointed out in the letter to the Corinthians we
need to foster dialogue that conflicts with our own view. We also believe that we alone our responsible
for our theology and actions. Thus, we
stand opposed at times. We also are both
very clear that salvation, whatever that may be, is that wondrous mix of
belief, grace and action.
We both think
that each other’s political candidates are a joke. And yes, they both are. We both agree that
agreement is not required, but thought as to one’s position is. There have been
times that in the tension within our friendship that there has been silence,
and distance, but not rejection. For in that understanding of the odd life we
have been called to live, dissension is essential.
We have argued
theology and politics, and will continue to do so. We recognize that we are stumbling towards
what we have been called to pursue.
I like him. Push come
to shove, I like him. He, like me,
values friendships that are not comfortable. That friends that offer tension
and disagreement often makes us better people.
And it seems to be the first order of business with the Lord is to be
better people.
There is a lesson to be learned, and thus I share our
friendship in this post.
As of late, as the world seems to become much more divisive,
we have got caught up in the divisiveness.
The we, I refer to, is the body of Christ. Recently, my friend and pastor took a very
public stand on a such an issue. To his
credit, my pastor stated his belief clearly, thoughtfully, and humbly.
One Sunday as
he was teaching, I was out with the kids, a visitor to our congregation stood
up and publicly attempted to shame him.
It could be assumed that this person did so thinking that they had been
directed by the Lord. But I think
not.
Jesus was not
one to shy away from conflict. To simply
state nasty things to a person and then flee was not his way, nor is it what we
are called to do. While scripture does
lay out the steps that one might take in resolving conflict; publicly shaming
someone is not that way.
It would be easy to dismiss my friend at lunch. I have another few who are similar – we stand
on some very opposite sides of the spectrum. As much as I think my lunch mate,
and others maybe wrong, he is still my brother in Christ. To distance myself is to abandon any ability
to help him in his growth – yes – read into that “Correct him from his foolish
ways.” I also think that distancing ourselves from dissension provides the cold
comfort of not being challenged that we might wrong.
Not that I think I am great Christian. I do think that we need each other now more
than ever. Any division, right or left,
conservative or progressive, fundamentalist or emergent, actually does not
exist.
I have a
relationship with Christ. That
relationship like all others will look different for me than it would for
you. Just as my relationship with my
wife would look different than yours, or my relationship with my brother would
look different from yours.
These days,
as the world seems to be a crazier place, we need each other more than
ever. While I might be of the opinion
that others do not represent my faith, I do need to be aware that this is not
my judgement to make.
He also told
bluntly that I should get back to posting more blog posts.
