Two Baptists Walk Into a Bar....

OK. It was more like a local eatery. But, hey! It made you look.

On a more serious note. RevMitchell and I got together for lunch earlier this week. The good Rev. started a thread about our get-together shortly thereafter. That, in itself, is not worthy of news. People have lunch together all the time. But it sort of makes Baptist Board news. The good Rev. and I have had our share of theological spats on this board. At one point either one, or both of us, had the other on ignore. But yet, here we were breaking bread together. And you know what? No personal attacks. No theological donnybrook. It was two brothers in Christ enjoying fellowship over turkey melt sandwiches. We both took interest in what the other had to say, and concluded in prayer. We agreed to stay in touch and to get together again.

What did I take out of getting together with the Rev?

1. It is difficult to be rude, hateful and condescending to a brother in Christ you have met in person.

2. It is possible to maintain our individual theological convictions without demonizing our brother.

3. When you look your brother in the eye you are looking at someone for whom Christ died.

4. I will interact with this brother in a completely different way on the BB. I will maintain my theological distinctives, and not shy away from defending them. But I will keep in mind that I am discussing/debating with a brother. The should effect my manner of speech.

5. I will try to extend the same charity towards those I have not met.

 

All I know is that he was affable, kind, and considerate during our conversation. He did not have his fangs out to get me and vice versa. How is this not a good thing?

 

I am changing this post to reflect a more appropriate passage:

Ephesians 4:25-32 25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. 26 Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not give the devil an opportunity. 28 He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. 29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. 30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

 

This thread has really disappointed me. I intended it to cause those who read it to practice some introspection, with the hope that it would change the tenor of interactions. Most of us have plenty to repent of when it comes to engaging with those we disagree with. I am one of those. I never meant it to squelch honest debate or to make all disagreements relative. I just thought that if brothers with such substantial theological disagreements like Rev and me could treat each other as brothers, why not more people on the BB? Instead I have seen meanness. And not just meanness, an attempt to justify it because others do it. That is very, very sad.

A dear brother on this board once asked me why I have certain BB members on ignore. I explained to him it is not because I think I am better than them or that their opinion is not as valid as mine. It is simply because the level of engagement has become so toxic that it is better not to communicate than to communicate and sin. I lament the fact that I had to add a poster in this thread to that list. It means that there is a rift between us that has yet to be reconciled.

I am not happy tonight.

 

JDF, I am in no position to tell you how you should feel towards another BB member. I can only speak of my experience and pray that it encourages you.

Grace and peace.