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

Ah, that helps :) I think I follow your question
better.

I would think that there's no hypocrisy in
participating in a group study with a framework that
you don't necessarily agree with. Group studies are
intended as an exchange of ideas among participants,
and so there's no presumption (I don't think) that
every participant who comes will agree (or even have
thought about) the framework upon which its based.
(this is in contrast to say, something like Communion,
in which there is the reasonable expectation that all
people taking it our Christian; thus, it would be
hypocritical for an Atheist to take it)

As an example, I am a Lutheran, but when I visited
with my aunt awhile back, I attended her Baptist
church and accompanied her to their Bible study.
Naturally, the doctrines and interpretations they were
working under were different than mine, but I don't
think my joining them was hypocritical on my part,
because I was simply there as a fellow member of the
Body of Christ studying God's word. In that same
spirit, you could be "visiting" the study group.

As far as how vocal about it you should be, I would
say once again that that's a judgment call you should
make from context. Depending on the circumstances,
"listening mode" may be better, but then, it may not.
You may need to reference your own perspective as you
discuss the main topic for clarity or strength of
argument; alternatively, if the group study begins
with a discussion of the underlying framework, that
may present a perfect opportunity to describe your
perspective. In any event, I think the bottom line is
to be true to your beliefs while maintaining respect
for others (duh) and sharing as best you can in their
fellowship :)

Christine

--- David Opderbeck <dopderbeck@gmail.com> wrote:

> 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?
> > >
> >
> >
> > To unsubscribe, send a message to
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> > "unsubscribe asa" (no quotes) as the body of the
> message.
> >
>

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Received on Wed Sep 5 15:51:05 2007