Editor’s Be aware: Our September 2024 mini-series on the BCC Grace and Fact weblog addresses dealing with disagreements biblically in several sides of life. On this closing article, Kyle Johnston presents 4 theological and pastoral ideas for dealing with disagreements inside the biblical counseling motion with better knowledge, love, and poise. In different contributions to the collection, Joe Keller discusses navigating tough conversations in marriage, and Rush Witt considers dealing with battle and disagreements inside the native church.
Disagreements throughout a motion as broad because the Biblical Counseling Motion (BCM) are inevitable—and may even be useful. The worth of a coalition is the mix of shared theological commitments amid various views. This could be a nice assist to constructive dialogue and strong debate, serving to us all assume by points extra clearly. This implies good disagreements assist us mature—as people and whilst a motion. I believe this is without doubt one of the explanation why David Powlison wrote, “Truthful-minded criticism is one in all life’s greatest pleasures, an acquired style effectively well worth the buying.”[1]
However it’s additionally (sadly) too simple for theological debates to show into one thing extra uncharitable. Sadly, this has typically been the case with the BCM. And so, to assist us deal with disagreements with better knowledge, love, and poise, let’s contemplate 4 theological and pastoral ideas.
Apply Theological Triage
Gavin Ortlund has written a quick and splendidly useful ebook encouraging us to consider dealing with theological disagreement. He makes use of the time period “theological triage” to assist us discern the distinction between main, secondary, and tertiary doctrines. I gained’t repeat his argument (although I might advocate the ebook), however I believe we will simply perceive the worth of his level: we should always be capable of prioritize theological points. Certainly, we see this taking place inside the New Testomony: “Allow them to be beneath God’s curse!” (Gal. 1:9) is totally different than “settle for the one whose religion is weak, with out quarreling over disputable issues” (Rom. 14:1). The apostle Paul was in a position to discern the variations between varied theological controversies.
In fact, doing this “theological triage” is far simpler stated than carried out. Happily for these of us inside the BCM, this theological triage has been made simpler. It’s because the founding management workforce of the Biblical Counseling Coalition produced an enormously vital doc that permits us to see the boundaries of what’s meant by the time period biblical counseling: the BCC Confessional Assertion.
If we use the BCC Confessional Assertion as a information, we will extra simply have interaction on this “theological triage.” Disagreements that fall inside the parameters of the Confessional Assertion are clearly much less vital. It doesn’t imply that there’s nothing vital to debate however it’s essential to keep in mind that these are “intramural” debates—maybe let’s imagine they’re extra just like the “disputable issues” class of Romans 14.
Working towards theological triage will help us deal with disagreements with better readability on the relative significance of the controversy. So, the primary query we will ask ourselves once we’re partaking in disagreement is: “How vital is that this situation? Is it vital sufficient to begin a dialogue/cellphone name/electronic mail thread/weblog publish, and so forth.? Why?”
My closing three factors are briefer and have all been drawn from John Newton’s remarkably insightful letter “On Controversy” (which you will discover on-line right here).[2]
Contemplate Your Opponent
Newton begins by reminding us to contemplate the particular person we’re disagreeing with. Will we love them and pray for them? Will we keep in mind that, “In a short while you’ll meet in heaven”? Once we are collectively in heaven as God’s folks, even your fiercest opponent right here “will then be dearer to you than the closest pal you’ve upon earth.” How inconsistent, then, for us to have interaction with malice or an absence of affection. If we contemplate our opponent fastidiously, we can even use our phrases fastidiously: “In case you write with a want of being an instrument of correcting errors, you’ll in fact be cautious of laying hindrances in the best way of the blind or of utilizing any expressions which will exasperate their passions, verify them of their ideas, and thereby make their conviction, humanly talking, extra impracticable.”
And so a second query we will ask ourselves is: “Do I like the particular person I’m having a disagreement with? Am I praying for them? Am I keen to be light and average in how I talk with or about them?”
Contemplate the Public
Newton goes on to remind us that theological disagreements typically fall into public view. In such a case, regardless that onlookers might not be effectively certified to evaluate the particulars of the controversy, there’s a perceptiveness of many to discern the true spirit of a author. It’s doable to be technically appropriate however harsh, sanctimonious, and unloving. Newton means that zealous disagreements hurt the reason for the gospel: “If our zeal is embittered by expressions of anger, invective, or scorn, we might imagine we’re doing service of the reason for reality, when in actuality we will solely carry it into discredit.”
Sadly, I believe Newton’s feedback might be utilized to sure moments and debates inside the BCM. And so this precept leads us to a 3rd self-reflection query: “If somebody international to this specific debate needed to learn my article/weblog publish, and so forth., what would they assume? Would my gentleness and fair-mindedness be evident?”
Contemplate Your self
Newton ends with a looking passage relating to our personal motives for wanting to have interaction in debate and controversy: “We discover however only a few writers of controversy who haven’t been manifestly damage by it. Both they develop in a way of their very own significance, or imbibe an offended, contentious spirit.” Expertise has demonstrated the knowledge of Newton’s perception many times. All of us like to be proper, and the will to be seen as proper in public is commonly an excessive amount of for many of us.
Shifting Ahead
All of us have one thing we will repent of once we take into consideration how we’ve dealt with disagreements. What a consolation to know that the One who describes Himself as “light and lowly” can renew us into His picture in order that we will be taught to be light and meek with each other.
Questions for Reflection
- How vital is that this situation? Is it vital sufficient to begin a dialogue/cellphone name/electronic mail thread/weblog publish, and so forth. over? Why?
- Do I like the particular person with whom I disagree? Am I praying for them? Am I keen to be light and average in how I talk with or about them?
- If somebody international to this specific debate needed to learn my article/weblog publish, and so forth., what would they assume? Would my gentleness and fair-mindedness be evident?
[1] David Powlison, Does the Shoe Match? (Journal of Biblical Counseling [Spring 2002]: 2-14).
[2] John Newton, “On Controversy,” Ligionier, March 2, 2012, https://www.ligonier.org/be taught/articles/on-controversy.
