7.28.20

I am not given to conspiracy theories.

I do not generally react.

This is partially convenient, partially intentional.

I believe there is much Biblical and even purely practical wisdom in this approach to controversy. And I believe that the wisdom of this approach increases in direct proportion to the import or magnitude of the controversy.

Some may interpret silent reservation categorically as fear or cowardice. I see it often as a necessary process by which an individual must silence the divisive voices of fear, cowardice, malice and prejudice in order to organize their own thoughts, form those thoughts into personal convictions, and cross examine those convictions before pledging allegiance to a movement or broadly accepted body of thought.

I am not afraid of the government. I am not afraid of offending people with truth expressed with gentleness and love. Whom I do “fear” is God. I fear carelessly misrepresenting him by my often disingenuous self-preservative motives. I fear speaking truth as a loud gong or clanging symbols, without love, without interest in relationship, and without responsible consideration of facts and friendships.

Division and persecution are inevitable for the follower of Jesus but the presence of persecution is not always the result of obedience; poor stewardship and careless words generally elicit the same effect.

This is why I generally say very little very slowly. It is a common tendency to confuse the Biblical mandate of stewardship with moral obligation to immediate, extreme activism. Stewardship is commanded, submission to God is commanded, submission to the government beneath God’s law is commanded. But also a disposition and pursuit of unity is commanded, humility is commanded, love is commanded. So please God first rather than men (even yourself), keep a clear conscience, speak truth in love, and you will have no need for fear or apology.

1 Corinthians 13; James 1:19-20; Ephesians 4:1-3, 29-32