The Berlin Wall and Christian Dissent

Recently it was the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, which harbinged the collapse of Communism throughout Eastern Europe. This celebration also highlighted the role of dissent, which involved different ideological positions, including many Christian intellectuals.

Do we not need an underground Christian resistance movement in the contemporary West? Of course, we do not live under a totalitarian regime. But we do live in one that is ‘totalising’. Totalitarianism is a deliberate system of ideological conformity. In the West, under cover of official pluralism, we inhabit a totalising system which imposes a single view of reality.

LGBTQ+ Only Connect

I recently met with a local LGTQ+ leader; to see how he viewed Christianity, and build bridges across the cultural divide. His main gripe was, understandably, the mental illness among gay people, including the amount of self-harm, plus the discrimination and violence they experience. Conservative Christians, he thought, contribute to this anti-gay feeling in society; so he wondered if we could change our theology, and accept same-sex marriage?

At a recent Street Level Theology session (our monthly theology class at KCBC), on same-sex relationships, someone asked: although we have this conservative theology, can we avoid exacerbating the prejudice and problems faced by gay people? It requires, I think, intentional, concrete, actions, rather than well-meaning, but vague, sentiments of sympathy.

Among the Polemicists?

I’m surprised that my two latest blogposts propelled me into the realm of polemics, criticising the views of other Christians. I feel uneasy with that. I don’t enjoy conflict, and shy away from it, whenever I can. I also don’t like it when people criticise me; this made me decide not to respond to negative comments on social media.

I do think, however, that we must confront error when we see it. And not only concerning issues of obvious error. There needs to be robust debate within the church about the application of truth. We must not be afraid of respectful discussion and dialogue. The only problem is that if we are ready to dish it out, we ought also to be able to take it as well: myself included.

How Heresy Happens

I don’t like public controversy, and the kind of arguments Christians get into. This kind of divisive sectarianism gives Christianity a bad name. Plus, I don’t like it when people criticise me, and so I don’t want to do the same to others. However, sometimes we come across such a significant theological error, which also highlight problems influencing the church’s teaching today, that we have to speak out.

I came across a church recently where doctrinal error combines with ethical compromise. Their Pastor was describing the vision of the church, and explained that, as a Christian Church, they believed in one God, ‘in three parts’.

Sorry, J. John...

I write this with a heavy heart. I hate disagreements, and when people criticise me, so I am loathe to do it here. Nevertheless…

J. John is a superb evangelist, and a very funny man. However he has just written a blog on the Premier Christianity website. He’s taking issue with the matter of political correctness; responding to the BBC’s declared support for diversity, criticising for example the white middle class male, erstwhile counter-cultural heroes, like Monty Python.