I have terminated my conversations with John Shuck. While we have been friends for a long time, and still are friends John has mocked members of the Presbyterian Church. He did so in three posts on his blog:
New Winos Are All About Jesus
Name the New Wineskins Contest!
Now I will be the first to admit that some of the folks in the New Wineskins movement have not been at all polite in the comments about the Presbyterian Church. Further, as some of them leave the denomination, the call the PCUSA apostate. I disagree with them. And frankly some of them have been terribly nasty to John. But I don’t believe in returning evil for evil. So I posted the following on John’s blog:
John
I find your mocking of the New Wineskins people totally unacceptable. I can no longer in good conscience participate in a dialogue with you.
I certainly don’t agree with the people leaving the denomination but frankly your current behavior is exactly what has caused me pain from the rigid liberals for my whole career.
I know you love and are concerned about the PCUSA. I do and am too. But the way to respond to all who disagree with you, no matter what their behavior, is by treating them as we have each other not by mocking them. Others may not respond as we have but we still have a responsibility to “. . . be (friends) among (our) colleagues in ministry, working with them, subject to the ordering of God’s Word and Spirit,” even when others do not behave in such a fashion.
If you remove the three mocking posts about the New Wineskins and apologize for mocking them I will continue in dialogue with you. Just send me an email if you have done so.
I have appreciated our conversations and continue to love you as my friend.
Bob
I make no claim to be sinless. But I do try to be courteous to all, no matter how much I may disagree with them. I believe the greatest thing the PCUSA needs is careful, courteous listening.
4 comments:
Hi Bob,
I am looking forward to your posts on freedom. Our walk with Christ is never easy.
Bob,
John has the right to say whatever he wants on his blog. The New Wineskins are a miserable group. I hope that "there's no gay in wineskins" wins. In comparison to the huge amount of marketing materials, the layman, their Baal/PCUSA materials, John is tame. People have the right to hear ALL SIDES of opinions at church discussions, not just the winos side which is what they do and it's disgusting. It has nothing to do with what anyone believes and everything to do with group psychology.
Hi Bob,
Just want you to know how much I have appreciated our conversation and your friendship.
I also appreciate your position here.
In Christ,
john
anonymous
Of course John has the right to say whatever he wants on his blog. But I don't necessarily have to participate in dialogue with John either. Because he spoke about the New Wineskins people in a way I believe is disrespectful I choose to not write on his blog anymore. John and I are still friends. We just disagree.
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