Archie Poulos from Moore Theological College has written an interesting article over at Sydneyanglicans.net on the attitudes we should take towards people in the Christian community who believe different things to us. He provides a helpful ‘barometer’ approach for dealing with long-term friends, measuring their change in belief before gauging your own response.
Something of particular interest to church planters will be his guidelines for working with people from other Christian traditions:
There are times when you can work with those who hold a different position to you. This will normally be to complete a specific task. For example people of different theological positions could work together for an end to the abuse of minority groups.
Who is your friend is also determined by who is your enemy. The old line that my enemy’s enemy is my friend is true. In the battle for souls, you can work with someone who trusts in the substitutionary, sacrificial death of Jesus but differs in some areas when you are fighting against those who believe the gospel truth is a fairy story and Christian faith is merely about morality.
Food for thought as we plant in communities that have a church presence, but may be unfamiliar with the Bible.
Cheerio,
Ed.
