Categories: uncategorized
Date: 01 August 2005 15:47:55
My linguistic skills, my tolerance for fundamentalists and my engagement in the world around me were all areas I was challenged on whilst at the Baptist World Congress.
I am v. much only an English speaker, I struggled with Spanish for a few years at school and gave it up as soon as I could. Yet, I live in an ever more globalised world, where the balance of power is changing and where, increasingly, I need to understand "the other" rather than live in fear of those cultures and people I don't understand.
As such when Josue Fonsecu (a Chillian pastor and academic) was one of a team of speakers looking at how Baptists are going to move forward over the next 100 years he explained that we have to go beyond just being Baptist and become bridge builders, and within that, we should be bi-lingual.
Similarly it was the theme of understanding "the other" and not giving into fear that I was challenged about my view of fundamentalists. Jimmy Carter (this gets you to links internet streaming of Jimmy Carters talk and others ) spoke in a clear way about the division that exists amongst different groups of Christians. This was framed, politically, around the issue of fundamentalist isolation and gender roles. Unsurprisingly, the thrust of the talk was taking the position I come from (women in leadership is bibically sound); however the challenge to me came as he explained that unity is not achieved through excluding those we do not agree with. According to the former president we need to resist rigidity, authority and exclusion and be kind to each other; forgiving others if their views hurt us, as God forgives us. The emphasis should be upon healing because the closer we get to Christ the closer we get to each other. This really touched a chord with me, as did the phrase which was used by a variety of people throughout the week, "diversity in unity".
The final challenging aspect was taking a wholistic view of the world around us and rather than just talking, actually doing something to show Gods love and follow Christs example. This was something a number of speakers from around the world alluded to or spoke to directly during the week, most powerfully Neville Callam from Jamaica (who again can be heard through the internet streaming).