Disagreement

Do you find any social matters on which all Christians should agree? Where is disagreement permissible? 

In his sermon Catholic Spirit, John Wesley wrote, “Though we can’t think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may.”  In a memorial sermon for George Whitfield, with whom he often passionately disagreed, Wesley wrote, ““There are many doctrines of a less essential nature. ... In these, we may think and let think; we may 'agree to disagree.' But, meantime, let us hold fast the essentials. …”  So what are the essentials regarding social matters? I imagine on this we would disagree!  It seems to me that if we are earnestly trying to put love into action regarding a social matter, than if we come to a different conclusion, on many matters this is permissible disagreement. Personally, the matters I think Christians should agree center around the value of each person in the eyes of God; we should stand united against what is the exploitation of another – racism, slavery (and its modern versions), abuse, and that which harms the dignity of another. 

Essential to Faith and Disagreements

Below are two questions from Week 1 of the Methodist Identity: Beliefs course.

What beliefs do you see as essential to Christian faith, and why? By what measure is a belief made "essential"?’ 

I believe God is the creator of everything that is.  God’s character is love – a love we cannot understand and can only begin to experience.  God is not a God who creates and abandons.  God is involved in God’s creation, every day, all the time.  That involvement does not remove the will of God’s creation, for if it did, we could not love.  In God’s love, God sent Jesus, his son, and himself, to us to show us who God is – the infinite nature of God’s love. Through the son we learn that forgiveness, mercy, and grace are real and are for all of us. Through the son we learn how to live, here on earth, and there, in heaven. God remains with us as the Holy Spirit, and through the spirit, as an example of God’s continuing grace, we can communicate with God, and are made whole. God’s body on earth is the church – the union of God’s creation, sharing God’s gifts to demonstrate God’s love to all. 

 

A belief is essential to Christian faith when its removal would change the revelation of the essential nature of God. I think I “judge” this most often as the big picture of the bible. It’s often only seen in small pieces in individual verses – a single verse doesn’t provide a complete picture. When I consider what makes a belief essential, it is those beliefs that define that “big picture” of God.

How much doctrinal disagreement is permissible, or should even be encouraged? Explain.

 

John Wesley preached, “But as to all opinions which do not strike at the root of Christianity, we think and let think.”  This does not mean that we don’t have common beliefs or a shared doctrine, but our doctrine is limited to essential beliefs. I think doctrinal disagreement is unavoidable. Our Methodist doctrine arose from the beliefs of the church, but that doesn’t mean we all have identical beliefs, the same interpretation of doctrine, or complete agreement on those things outside of doctrine. Doctrine arises from challenges, so disagreement can help us in the refinement of our beliefs – healthy discussions can be a means of sanctifying grace, bringing us closer to God. God, and God’s gift of faith to us is strong enough to not only withstand disagreement but also to be strengthened by it. We are meant to be thinking Christians.

 

All of that said, there are those doctrine that are the root of Christianity. We can certainly disagree about them, and discuss them, but as a church we have decided they are essential.

 

The Grace of Disagreement

One other thought from Rabbi Jason Bonder's video about Rambam's Ladder (I talked about it earlier).  He says that if you review it, and you don't agree with it, or you don't think it applies today (since it was originally created as an illustration in the 12th century, then that is OK.  In fact, he says it is Good!

"Jewish tradition encourages the next generations, one after the other, and each individual to grapple with the texts that are put in front of them.  Disagreement is a theme that is baked into Jewish thought.  The Hebrew name Yisrael, given to the biblical patriarch Jacob, is often translated as 'wrestles with God.'... The key is to tell someone why and find deeper meaning within it."

Do we do that? Do we find it "good" to disagree and to join with others in Christian Conversation (hint - I capitalized it so that it would remind you of the name of one of the Means of Grace Wesley talked about)?  Or do we stick so firmly and stubbornly with the traditional about scripture we have been thought that we leave no room for the grace of disagreement?