I have this thought I’ve been pondering since applying to seminary. How does one view the Other who vehemently disagrees with your beliefs about volatile issues which threaten to split denominations? For instance, some Episcopal students at Duke Divinity School try to maintain a sense of fellowship with one another while holding conflicting theological stances on homosexuality in the face of overall threat to schism in the worldwide Anglican Communion. Yet both sides come together around the Lord’s Table for Holy Eucharist.
Are gay Christians and other progressive Christians really Christian? Are conservative Christians really Christian? What does it mean to be Christian when both sides claim to be serving Christ’s cause when defending their beliefs. Progressives and revisionits generally view themselves as prophetic witnesses against what they view as a long-standing sexism, heterosexism and homophobia in the institutional Church. Conservatives and traditionalists generally regard progressives with the utmost disdain regarding them as borderline or thoroughbreed heretics on the verge of renting the Church of Jesus Christ apart. This cosmic drama being performed on the world’s stage tarnishes the witness of the Church.
I am not calling for a moratorium on dialogue and debate. I’m calling for is humility and respect, peace with each other during the remembrance of the week of our Lord’s Passion. During this time and always we must remember we all were his enemies on that gloomy day on Golgotha. Our hatred, our scorn, and our ungodliness nailed him to the Cross. For our salvation he rose from the dead. Please make with someone with whom you disagree this week in remembrance of the Crucified and Risen Lord. Maybe invite each other over for Easter dinner. (Okay I admit that’s a stretch!)
