Re: [asa] Creation-Fall-Restoration Paradigm and Pragmatic Questions

Christine -- I agree, it would certainly be hypocritical to actively
affirm a proposition you don't believe, and it might not be hypocritical to
remain silent when a propostition is asserted that you don't believe. But
is it hypocritical to affirm the general aims, tone, and goals of a program,
and even to participate in the program, when you are uncomfortable with the
exact parameters of a specific belief on which the program is based, without
expressing that discomfort? So, if the program on Christian social
responsibility is based on a paradigm of "creation-fall-restoration," and
I'm far more comfortable with "creation-fall-completion", is it hypocrisy to
participate without expressing my thoughts on that nuance, or is that just
wisdom in saving that particular discussion for another day?

On 9/5/07, Christine Smith <christine_mb_smith@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> David O.,
>
> I was a bit confused on some of what you asked, but in
> response to your last question:
>
> I would define hypocrisy to be a disconnect between
> your actions and your words. So for example, if you
> say you want to practice good environmental
> stewardship, but then you throw away aluminum cans
> when you could have recycled them, then I would deem
> that hypocritical. I think this holds true regardless
> of whether you are in the public or private arena;
> thus, if you have private reservations about a line of
> thought or interpretation, but then act as if you
> don't (i.e. say things that would mislead others about
> your beliefs), I would classify this as hypocritical.
> However, I don't think it's hypocriticial to just go
> into "listening mode", in which although you disagree
> with things being said, you don't necessarily choose
> to volunteer your own viewpoint (you remain silent)
> because you're more interested in learning about the
> perspectives of others.
>
> As far as unbelief goes (which I take to mean holding
> a "heretical" or "non-traditional" Christian view?) I
> would say that it depends on the relative importance
> of the doctrine in question. For example, I believe
> that animals share in eternal life--this might be
> considered "heretical" relative to traditional
> Christian views--however, I would not term this
> "unbelief" because the question of animals' spiritual
> lives are not central to Christianity; conversely, if
> I believed, or tended towards the notion that Jesus
> was not the Son of God (which of course I don't), then
> this is serious enough of a "heretical" belief that I
> would consider it "unbelief", and that such a person
> could not truly be considered a "Christian".
>
> Hope this helps.
> In Christ,
> Christine
>
> --- David Opderbeck <dopderbeck@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > I was recently speaking with a pastor who's starting
> > a really neat group
> > study on the Church's social responsibility. He is
> > working in a fairly
> > conservative evangelical context, but is admirably
> > (IMHO) trying to get away
> > from the "culture war" mentality. His study is a
> > broad one, following the
> > familiar "creation-fall-restoration" theme starting
> > with the creation
> > narratives in scripture.
> >
> > So here is a question related to recent discussions
> > here: do we need to
> > feel uncomfortable with this paradigm generally, if
> > we're asking questions
> > about exactly what "fall" and "restoration" might
> > mean outside a YEC
> > context? Is it hypocritical to affirm and support a
> > study using this
> > paradigm if you would have to do some major nuancing
> > of what "fall" and
> > "restoration" mean -- or even if you might prefer a
> > term like "completion"
> > to "restoration?" (I don't think the study in
> > question, BTW, deals with YEC
> > or any other such specific questions -- I think it
> > focuses more on the "what
> > does this mean spiritually" kind of theme). If you
> > are blessed, or cursed
> > as the case may be, with the need and means to
> > ponder such questions, do you
> > flag it as a question, or let it go and participate
> > without raising it?
> > When does harboring private reservations turn into
> > hypocrisy or even
> > unbelief?
> >
>
>
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Received on Wed Sep 5 13:56:03 2007