I was at a gathering of ministers the other day, planning a community Thanksgiving service. All willing local churches will gather together under one roof the week of Thanksgiving to express gratitude to our God.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n
It’s an idea I am all for.<\/p>\n\n\n
At one point in the meeting, a pastor asked the others what translations were permissible for the evening. Another asked him, “Well, what do you usually use on Sunday mornings?”<\/p>\n\n\n
The man refused to answer, saying, “I don’t want to offend anyone.”<\/p>\n\n\n
The group reassured this brother that nobody at the service would be offended by the use of any particular translation.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n
According to the pastor leading the meeting, there are some “King James Only” types in town, but they would not be joining us for the community service … for that very reason!<\/p>\n\n\n
I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.<\/p>\n\n\n
As far as I am concerned – and this holds equally for online or in person – if you disagree with me on some theological matter, bring it on!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n
If you have a better rationale or a sharper exegesis of Scripture, I just might change my mind.<\/p>\n\n\n
After all, I have been wrong in the past and the chance that my current theology is 100% accurate is zero.<\/p>\n\n\n
Why would I want to hang on to a false belief about God or the Bible?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n
The best way to test my own stances is to put them in the ring. Any unable to stand friendly scrutiny should be further researched or refined or retired.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n
If brothers and sisters in Christ are really interested in moving ever closer to the Truth, a good argument can’t be beat.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n
Plus, it would be helpful to our current national culture if the church was able to serve as a role model of critical thinking, respectful disagreements, and willingness to reconfigure viewpoints.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n
Maybe some day?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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