outreach

 From Luke 6 beginning at 32
If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even
sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to
you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you
lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you?
Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive back as much. But love your
enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward
will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind
toward the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, Even as your
Father is also merciful.

extended paraphrasing…

So you are friendly and open to those who have similar sympathies and
flavor of intellect? What credit is that to you? Even YECs and ID
enthusiasts do that. So you filter out the perverse and the belligerent
– whose words insult you and are not at the same level of discourse as
you expect? How is that a credit? Even Free Republic people do that (I
suppose).

I'm not defending Janice's views or saying that the criticisms leveled
at her are unwarranted. What I am saying is that vitriol is in
overabundant supply these days. If Christians simply respond in kind,
then they show the world that they have nothing different to offer. But
to listen and take the abuse of others, and respond, not in kind, but
with love (requiring nothing short of God's miraculous power in my case)
– that is evidence of something better. Scathing retorts are easy for
those of you with natural wit. A gracious rebuke is more difficult to
contrive, and even so, not a guarantee of "success". The fact that some
are here reacting to the discussion – even if abrasively, means they
were at least reading it in some minimal way. And if they keep coming
back, there must be some degree of sympathy, however hidden. What better
place to practice outreach than in your own backyard where you have a
willing audience? The world doesn't get any less hostile to ASA
sensibilities away from this list.

One last note – I don't mean to sound as if I believe Christians must
always open themselves to everything. As much as I oppose censorship
(our school is currently crafting a library policy), there are
reasonable limits to observe. –'Reasonable' – there's the rub!

--merv
Received on Fri Mar 24 08:58:15 2006