October

A bunch of times since I have been at Orangewood Presbyterian Church, I have been asked:

• Are you okay if the ___________ group reads __________ book?
• Is it alright with you if “they” have a speaker on __________ topic from ___________ perspective?
• Do you have a problem with an adult education class on _____________ taught by _______________?

Almost always, my answer to these questions is going to be “I’m fine with it!” Of course there is such a thing as truth, and God has revealed much of it to us, but there are also many issues where good Christian people differ. I’ll probably veto it when Satan wants to teach a class, or the Thursday morning Bible study wants to study the Kama Sutra, but mostly, I don’t feel the need to rule on such things. I trust you! You have wonderful brains and beautiful souls, and you will not be ruined by hearing/studying/reading about something from a different viewpoint. I do not perceive you as fragile souls that need to be protected from possible untruths. Rather, I view us all as spiritually discerning individuals who will almost always be strengthened and nurtured by a broad range of perspectives.

Actually, one of our strengths at Orangewood is a breadth of viewpoints. We come together in the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the desire to be his disciples, and because of that we can love and respect each other in the midst of differences. I will remind you that since I have been at Orangewood, I have preached on hot-topics as broad ranging as immigration; homosexuality; church and state; extreme poverty; war; “Should We Mess Around with Genes;” and “America – Right or Wrong.”

We’re still here! No one has gouged out anyone else’s eyes. There have been no charges of heresy before the courts of the church.

In a world where some churches have a party line on every issue, we are blessed to sometimes embrace differing points of view. We try hard to be a church where truth is often proclaimed, but also where truth is sometimes humbly sought after by listening to varying views. You are trusted to think for yourself. Your opinions are valued. Hopefully you will be challenged to listen to the perspectives of others and encouraged to test those perspectives against Scripture. Then, pray about it, seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead you and all of us into deeper truth and faith.