We all hold to a worldview. Depending on our personal convictions, we are free to express it however we want. The Two Cities is a collaboration of my evangelical Christian colleagues who freely write about anything related to theology and culture. This isn’t to bring down those who may disagree, but the hope is to begin positive and constructive dialogue amongst peers or those with opposing views.
The Statement
Not too long ago, CBMW released The Nashville Statement, a document that hones in on a biblical view of sexuality. Was it necessary? Some would say, “No.” But when I look at the struggles of culture and the balance of evangelical theology, my personal opinion would consider it to be necessary. While this statement is definitely not biblical canon, it does bring together a clearer picture of what the Bible says about sexuality. With a quick glance of the Nashville Statement, I found it consistent with my personal study and understanding of the biblical sexuality. So, after some research and seeing the big names who have already signed it, I followed suit.
But when this statement began to become viral, it didn’t take very long for critics to jump in with their opinions. In the digital age that we live in, there’s a space for all of us to dump whatever is on our minds in 140 character tweets or more.
The Shock
On a Monday morning, I was browsing through Facebook and saw that one of my old professors shared an article that called out several colleagues for signing the Nashville Statement. Like any curious cat, I decided to take a gander and when I got to the list, I was so shocked to see my name on there! Instantly, I began to go through the shame spiral that my wife has been researching on—beginning with regret and leading up to isolation.
The Symptoms
Mondays are particularly difficult to take in heavy topics because I’m typically home all day with the dogs. So imagine the kind of discouragement I felt from the morning till my wife came home. While it seemed like it was days of getting beat up, my wife really came through with a great amount of encouragement. But in particular as I reflect on my response, I’ve been wrestling with the question, “Isn’t this another illustration of being ‘unashamed of the gospel’”?
The Struggling Communities
I admit, I have deficiencies. But to a certain extent, don’t we all? Because we struggle, I would hope that it would draw communities together to wrestle through situations. There are fingers pointed towards both sides and no one seems to want to find places to dialogue.
The point of this post isn’t to defend my stand or to solve an issue, but rather open up considerations to have healthy dialogue regarding issues that have had poor responses from both sides.
I personally have friends who have views against the Nashville Statement, but rarely will they consider me a villain in their lives. In fact, we’re still friends and we hope to learn from one another. I agree that historically, Christians have not been the best at engaging those with opposing views. I’m quickly reminded of the opposition that Jesus had to endure. He wasn’t just wise with his words. He spent time with people, which eventually had him crucified on the cross. As counter-cultural as Jesus was, we can see his ministry as an example for all of us. We all are part of struggling communities, but who’s willing to sit, listen, and befriend one another?
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