Family talk

Many were blessed this week visiting different homes hosting the Week of Prayer.  The desire to start small groups is great!  And I had to assure a few that in the new year our top priority, even if we have to put on hold some programs, is to build community of care.

As the church grows larger in numbers so is the need to come closer together, to connect.  Church growth specialists point out that with growth in size comes the necessity to connect inside even more.  Worldwide Adventist community membership is over 18 million and with unbaptized children, and extended family members it’s over 30 million.  In such a large church there are differences of opinions, and often the disagreements are expressed not in the Spirit of Christ.

Earlier this week the North American Division leaders met for the annual council, and an interesting document was issued: a Statement on Civil Discourse.  In other words, a set of guidelines on how to talk to each other, a reminder of how to keep a conversation in community without rupturing relationships in the Body of Christ.

“1) We resolve to encourage expressions of disagreement that are honest and open based upon a sincere desire to arrive at truth as expressed in Scripture and the Spirit of Prophecy;
2) We resolve to first communicate with those with whom we disagree and listen non-judgmentally to their positions so that we can represent those positions accurately before critiquing them;
3) We resolve to avoid the use of sarcasm, cartoons, anecdotes, parody or any other form of insinuation to diminish the reputation or personhood of others;
4) We resolve to refrain from sponsoring or countenancing online or offline dialogue that vilifies or depreciates the good name of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in general or the reputations of its individual members in particular

We, therefore, resolve to avoid participating in, or being party to, all forms of unhealthy and demeaning discourse. Our aim is to govern our communication according to the high standards of Christian conduct found in the guidelines this statement so that God may be glorified in all we say and do.”

North American Church president Dan Jackson asked that we seek “higher ground” during these challenging times.  I invite you to take this reminder to heart, and in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself or herself, and do nothing in selfish ambition or conceit (Philippians 2:3).  Eugene Peterson’s “Message paraphrase puts it this way (verses1-4)  If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.