Best Practices April Book Club
Please join us on April 5, 2022, for the next NAD Best Practices Book Club for a discussion of Tim Muehlhoff and Richard Langer’s Winsome Conviction: Disagreeing Without Dividing the Church (IVP, 2020). As most pastors can appreciate, we live in an age of fierce convictions, whether they are about perspectives on faith, politics, or even vaccines. The authors recognize not all Christians share the same convictions, even within a faith community. They note that the Bible includes many illustrations of “disputable matters” over which Christians differed (see Romans 14).
From their study of the Bible, the authors agree on a number of principles to help pastors (and church members) distinguish between moral absolutes and matters of preference. The Bible urges, from their perspective, believers to think through disputable matters carefully. Why? “Paul clearly states in disputable matters our goal is not to please others, nor is it to please ourselves, but rather our goal is to please Jesus. It is wise to form one’s convictions by asking what is pleasing to Jesus, not simply what Jesus might permit, and certainly not just what I myself might like.” They propose careful reflection on how such convictions are formed: seeking to please Jesus, using the Bible as the sourcebook, and recognizing that we live in a world of spiritual conflict. Yet convictions are like light with many colors across a spectrum. In order to figure out where those convictions reside on that spectrum, it is important to seek practical wisdom and establish guidelines of conduct.
Some convictions matter much more deeply than others. Even if, at times, it may be necessary to separate (and that can be a healthy thing), one should choose the least disruptive option possible. The authors offer tips on how to better clarify and locate the source of disagreement when making necessary separations.
We especially want to encourage Adventist pastors to join us as we discuss with Dr. Muehlhoff and a panel of pastors and experts how we can better understand each other and winsomely disagree with one another while minimizing unnecessary division in the local church.
Questions for author and panel:
Have you experienced divisions in the local church? How did you locate (identify) such divisions and work through them?
Politics, vaccine debates, etc. are hotly debated topics and divide churches. How can we distinguish within an Adventist culture between firm moral and religious beliefs versus personal matters/choices?
How do you know when you have reached the point of separation? Have you found any helpful steps to minimize the damage? What suggestions have you utilized or found helpful for minimizing disruptive aspects of separation.
How can we use our convictions to share our beliefs rather than using our convictions as weapons?
A significant aspect of identifying beliefs is making sure that they stay Christ-centered. How can we keep Christ at the center of our convictions? How can we seek to please Jesus with our convictions and ultimately give account to Him (Rom. 14:12)?
How do cross-cultural aspects inform our debates and differences?
How can we better educate church members about the wide spectrum of absolutes and personal convictions? How might this look different across different times and places?
What guidelines for conduct should be emphasized within the local church? How can we establish healthy boundaries for communication?
