There's a pretty marked division in Christian parlance between those who consider themselves conservative and those who consider themselves liberal.  Sometimes, these terms are used pejoratively of someone else.  Other times, they're used with pride to describe ourselves.  Oh, she's one of those conservative Christians still stuck in the Middle Ages!  Oh that's not surprising he'd say that - he's such a liberal Christian!  Yes, our church is very conservative - we believe the Bible!  We're definitely a liberal church, we really care about our community.

Both would quickly agree that they are followers of Jesus Christ.  Both would see themselves as part of a two-millenia history of the Christian church.  Yet both are equally comfortable discounting the core tenets of the other side, of writing them off to either foolish consistency or cavalier ignoring of Scripture.  In early Church history, such fundamental differences of opinion on theological matters could come to be grounds for some pretty heavy-duty, centralized decision making.  The Ecumenical Councils of the first five centuries were fundamental in working out what was acceptable within a Biblical framework and what was not. 

We don't have the equivalent of Ecumenical Councils today.  Not ones that command the respect of a broad span of Christian denominations.  So the liberals are free to continue being liberal.  The conservatives are free to continue being conservative.  They're both free to keep deriding and berating the other side, and there's no one and no thing that seems capable of drawing them back into dialogue and seeking for accountability.  No one and no thing short of Jesus Christ and the Second Coming, that is. 

We're free to take pot shots across the widening chasm, but any effort to build bridges seems to be laughed off pretty quickly.  My personal attempts to begin conversations across the divide have been pretty unsuccessful thus far.  I tend to think that this is often because one side or the other or both sides set as ground rules for the discussion that these sorts of things are not open to discussion.  We can talk about these things over here, but we aren't willing to engage in honest and open dialogue about these issues over here.  These issues over here are sacred cows, and we aren't able or willing to even talk about them any more, they're so sacred.  You want to discuss whether it's reasonable to say that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God?  Moo!  Moo Moo Moo Mooooooo!!!!   You want to discuss whether or not abortion is more than just a woman's decision?  Moo!  Moo Moo Moo Mooooooo!!!!  And so the talks break down before the talks can even happen.

I believe that the power of the Holy Spirit is not hypothetical, and that He can and does work when people are open to His leading, and willing to say that we have to set aside our beliefs and bailiwicks if He leads us to see that we are wrong.  I believe this because I've seen it happen in my own life.  In others' lives.  And Biblically.  There were some pretty big differences of opinion in the first Church Council described in Acts 15.  And yet at the end of the day there was consensus.  There was a level of unity.  It undoubtedly took some time for that unity to feel comfortable to everyone.  But by the power of the Holy Spirit, they were able to say that It seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us (Acts 15:28, ESV).  I believe that this sort of conclusion is still possible in Christian dialog, even between liberals and conservatives, if everyone is willing to come in humility, bringing the best of their understanding and experience not as a bludgeon, but rather laying it in front of everyone to look at, to examine, to question - even as they look at , examine, and question the best understanding and experience of someone with very different conclusions.

I pray for that faithfulness in my own life, and as such, I want to seek out people that probably disagree with me on some important matters, to understand better where they are coming from, and hopefully for them to understand my perspective as well.  It seems to me that the only way we can be sure of what we believe, is by engaging with others who hold our core essentials in common, and trying to see how they arrive at different conclusions.  If all I ever do is listen to people who agree with me, I should consider myself in very real peril.  That was one of my hopes when I first started this blog, that this would be a place where people who disagree feel free to discuss honestly their disagreements, as well as their common hopes and faith. 

It's not easy work, to be sure.  But if we all claim that this is the most important thing in our lives - that Jesus is the most important person in our lives - then it would seem that this sort of dialogue must be one of the most important uses of our time.  Because this use of our time can help focus and sharpen the other uses of our time.  So we can be better equipped, better prepared, and better supported as we go out to minister  and care for those who do not have this most important person in their lives. 

I'd love to gather a group of people who may not agree, but are willing to give their best, and receive the best of others, towards better understanding, and perhaps (gasp!) even consensus, even a change of heart.   To talk about the big issues that more often than not divide rather than unify, that polarize rather than create community.  No sacred cows.  No pre-determined demands.  I can at least pray for such a thing.  Know anyone that would be interested?