The Context Of Relationship

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

—Romans 12:18

I’m surprised how often people ask me to weigh in on this or that small scandal in faith-related happenings or the church world or Christian publishing, when this pastor says that thing about that other pastor, when this author writes negatively about that church or other author. The fact that people are asking these questions doesn’t surprise me—but the fact that they’re asking me does surprise me, because I never bite, and unless something unforeseeable and dramatic changes in the future, I never will.

It’s not because I don’t have strong opinions—I do, and anyone who knows me well knows that there’s no shortage of those strong opinions . . . but that’s the point: I share those strong opinions in the context of relationship, because I think that’s the healthiest place for them.

Around our table we have all sorts of conversations and disagreements and differences of opinion. But we can hear each other’s voices, and we know one another’s stories. We can create a loving, kind framework to hold all the differing voices. It’s near impossible to do that online. And so I’ve made it a policy that I don’t.