On Being Unloving and Lazy

It’s been a few days since the Strange Fire Conference at John MacArthur’s Grace Community Church. Many writers have summed up the conference better than I could. Eric Davis has written a superb and fair summary of the event.

Mars Hill Church‘s Mark Driscoll managed to stir up some controversy by stopping by with some books. This is best summed up by Darren Wiebe.

I don’t pretend to know Pastor Driscoll’s motivations, but upon a close examination of the evidence at hand, the most charitable thing one can say is that it was a misguided publicity stunt; a stunt that unfortunately distracted folks from examining the meaning and message of the conference.

I don’t always agree with Pastors MacArthur or Driscoll, but I have respect for their ministries. The Strange Fire Conference was a legitimate examination of trends (and abuses) in the Church today. It was done with an eye toward speaking the truth in love.

Allowing someone to believe a lie is unloving and lazy; speaking the truth is loving and often difficult. Truth is, by its very nature, divisive. By divisive I mean it causes one to discern — to decide on one position over another.

Of course this is my opinion. I welcome yours.