I got home from worship team rehearsal tonight in time to catch some of the debate on ABC’s Nightline. Mark Driscoll and Annie Lobert argued for the existence, while Deepak Chopra and Bishop Carlton Pearson argued against. It was interesting, but I’m not sure what the debate accomplished.
If you missed it, you can watch it online here.
I’ve never been a big fan of debate. I believe in Truth, and want to know the Truth. I want to pursue and believe the correct stuff, and believe that my convictions–the things I believe–are true/correct. If I didn’t think that my beliefs are correct, why would I believe them? That’d be silly.
Open discussion is valuable, and I think that it’s a good thing for us to discuss what we believe and the reasons behind our beliefs. But I’m not sure what is to be gained by debate. Has anyone ever come to the end of a debate and decided to change their stance? Debate seems to be closely related to Argument.
I don’t think that the non-believing people around me are going to be persuaded to believe through argument and debate. In fact, I think most people–even in an academic culture like Penn State–are going to be turned off by posturing, bickering, and soap-boxing.
However, if I can love people, expressing truth through the way I live and love them, I believe that I will earn the right to be heard. Love is, as it has been said, a better way.
I have a strong set of beliefs that I hold on to, but I also value having a teachable spirit. I will hold on to my beliefs, but I am totally prepared to admit that my knowledge may be incomplete. I try to remain teachable and open to new and different opinions. Do I think that I am correct in my beliefs? Sure I do. I’ve studied and read, spent time examining my beliefs, wrestled with things that I do not understand, trying to come to some conclusion that lines up with what I understand to be true.
But if you have studied and reflected on your understanding of Truth and come out with a different interpretation, I am open to a discussion of what you believe and why you believe it. We will all have to answer for what we hold to be true, and our lives ultimately tell the story of what we believe.
An age-old saying goes like this: In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.
I believe that there are some essential truths that we must believe/live in order to be restored to God. There are also doctrines that are open to discussion, with many wise and intelligent people holding differing opinions. But the differences should be met with love; not argument and debate.
0 Comments