There are certain words that are sure to set Christians off. Words like abortion, women in ministry, evolution, homosexuality,  Harry Potter, or President Bush.  We hear these words, and our brains and tongues go into automatic pilot. We don’t even hear the questions or the issues, just the word. We have rehearsed our responses and are proud to hone our speaking skills every chance we get. Some of you are already formulating a brilliant response to this blog and may or may not even finish reading before you post.

This is our new Christian culture.  Why?  Because we truly believe we already know all the answers and God has called us to straighten out everyone else, even each other.  We even divide ourselves into "camps" and have labels we pin onto those Christians who do not agree with us on every point.  We are foolish, not because we are ignorant, but because we can't see that we are.  Is God pleased with our haughtiness and arrogance?

I shared a story in my Where Is God When I'm Hurting? blog to illustrate the point of our ignorance.  Allow me to share that story again here:

 When my nephew Charlie finished kindergarten, he announced to the family in total seriousness that he would not be going to first grade, because he had learned everything he needed to know.  We laughed at that, because it was cute and innocent, but are we not all exactly like Charlie?  After having learned the alphabet and some basic phonetics and arithmetic, Charlie felt he had a good enough grasp on everything that he knew school to be.  He had no concept of the history, literature, cultures, or geometry he was lacking, because his level of knowledge was not ready for them.  Should he be reminded in a few years of his family announcement, he too will laugh at it.  However, I suspect that every step of the way, although he can look back and see where he has come, he will still be unable to see the knowledge he lacks.  He will probably think he knows all he needs to know after 7th grade and after high school and after college, and maybe even after a PhD . . . Why?  Because until we have already learned something we are unable to grasp its depth.

I surmise that, just like Charlie after kindergarten, we have not even begun to grasp the vastness of God or what He desires of us in this life.  We can only see through the number of years we have walked on this earth, maybe 5, maybe 20, maybe 60 - all equally minuscule when compared to the eternity and infinity of God, who is constrained by no time barriers.  We can only understand through these finite and very limited human brains of ours, and through our five human senses, none of which takes us into the spiritual realm that surrounds us.  Of the greatest realities of the universe, we can only catch occasional glimpses, through a glass dimly, never perceiving with perfect clarity, thus never really having all the answers.

My nephew will begin 7th grade soon, and he has grown in knowledge since his pronouncement.  He can now talk about ideas and concepts he never even knew existed when he knew "everything."  As Christians we should never stop growing in knowledge and understanding.  On this I suspect we all agree.  However, on exactly how we should encourage our own growth, we tend to separate.  There are many ways we can grow, three of which I want to advocate here:

1)  Meet together regularly with other believers (in church, in Christian organizations, in MyChurch blogs . . .), sharing thoughts and questions.

2)  Read and study entire books of the Bible at a time, on your own, with no time line, but systematicallly covering all of the Bible, every word of every book. 

3)  Listen to others with whom you do not agree.  Not just hear, but really listen.  Without talking. 

Why should we listen intently to people who do not agree with us?  Because we will grow more that way than we will by listening only to those who do. 

Many of us as Christians have stopped thinking.  We have adopted certain spiritual leaders who do our thinking for us.  We don't have to think about any issue that arises, because our pastor will tell us what to think.  Or Dr. Dobson.  Or our parent or spouse.  What do I believe about stem-cell research?  Well, wait just a second so I can check and see what Dr. Dobson believes. Then I will fight for that opinion adamantly against all who disagree!

Oh, my brothers and sisters!  Go ahead and listen to those you revere.  Listen to your pastor, and discuss your questions with him.  But then do something new.  Listen, really listen, to someone, many someones, who believe just the opposite.  If we want to learn about Unitarians, or Catholics, wouldn't it make the best sense to invite a Unitarian or Catholic to speak to us, rather than getting all our "knowledge" from someone who has only read about them from a Baptist/Methodist/Lutheran book?  If we want to learn about Harry Potter, wouldn't it make better sense to read it instead of just accepting what our Bible Study leader said about it?  If we want to learn about homosexuality, wouldn't it make better sense to invite a homosexual to tell his story, instead of listening only to what the denominational leaders say? 

I'm not advocating that we change our opinions.  I'm advocating that we loosen them, to allow God to speak to us.  If we listen openly to those with differing views, we will change:  Either our own position will change, or it will grow stronger because we have gained a clearer understanding.  And ironically, when it is time again to speak, we will be more readily received because we have first heard.  God has much to teach us, but we can't hear, because we are ever talking.

Some of us believe we are listening to each other in the blogs here on MyChurch.  We have interchanges with Christians of all backgrounds and beliefs.  But are our interchanges really dialogue?  Are we listening, or are we just formulating our next response?  (Actually I have had some very meaningful exchanges here, and I am grateful for those who are able to offer that.)  

For years I knew all the answers.  Everything was written clearly in black and white, and I had the "Christian" answer to every question.  God spoke to me and told me to be quiet.  I did.  For years I prayed, read, journaled, and listened.  Then I felt God calling me again.  "Speak", he said.  "But I have more questions now than answers," was my response.  I think that's where He wanted to take me.  My mind and heart are open to His leading, and I can listen and respect others without having to talk back. 

I don't just want to hear what someone says about a new piece of legisIation.  I want to see it directly.  I am not satisfied to know which Scripture passages my denomination thinks pertain to women in ministry.  I want to read every word of the Bible for myself.  I don't just want to know what someone says about Darwin.  I want to read his writings for myself.  I am not satisfied to only hear what my pastor thinks about how we got the Bible.  I want to research it for myself, especially listening to anyone who advocates an opposing view from my own.  I don't want to hear what someone says about you, my Christian brother or sister.  I want to hear you directly.  I will be quiet and listen, unless you are as a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal, with all the rehearsed arrogant spoutings of omniscience, which only God Himself possesses.