Re: [asa] Fear and Loathing on this list

David Opderbeck wrote:
> I don't think anything in Matt. 23 gives anyone the right to bully
> other Christians with whom they disagree about debateable things. My
> Bible includes Matt. 23, but it also includes a whole bunch of stuff
> written by a guy named Paul (and / or his amenuensis or someone else,
> depending on what you think about the pastorals) on the subject of how
> we're supposed to treat each other when we disagree. The most
> significant thing Matt. 23 teaches us in this regard, I think, is that
> our Lord Jesus has no tolerance for elites who think it's their job to
> bludgeon everyone else into right thinking.
>
> David W. Opderbeck
I agree with the general thrust of your exhortation here, David, but a
point still remains about the example you used. The pharisees weren't
trying to bludgeon everyone else into right thinking. They were trying
to bludgeon everyone else into wrong thinking. Now, I know that in your
context above, that we should read implied quotation marks around the
word "right" as you used it. Yes, I agree that the chapter should be
first & foremost used to examine our own hearts & rightly or wrongly the
label "pharisee" has now become our modern metaphor for self-righteous
and hypocrite. But at some point, we are called to "gently restore our
brother", and I agree with you fully that "gently" means without sarcasm
or biting vitriol --- though it would seem Jesus & other previous
prophets pushed the envelope on that a bit. (and we are called to be
like Christ, so we can't just dismissively say, "well that was Him"
nevertheless I agree with you that Paul's exhortations still stand
also.) You are correcting a list member, are you not? --as well you
should if he is in the wrong. And he is trying to correct you, as well
he should if you are in the wrong. Whether or not you are using
bludgeons is, I guess, for you both to decide.

And to echo what somebody else has said, I hope I am called to account
here whenever I write things not motivated by Christ's love. I know in
my heart that it is quite possible to say *true* things and still be
*not right*. And by that I mean, a person can mechanically (or
sinfully) declare things that are technically true and yet not be right
with God themselves as they are saying that very thing. I've heard
words leave my mouth and then know in my heart how hollow those words
were because they did not come out of love. I may have been "right"
technically, but yet not right in a more important sense, if you know
what I mean.

--Merv

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Received on Tue Feb 17 07:53:00 2009