Ideally what we draw from God’s Word in our DAWG gets put to work in helping others, and ourselves, think through issues.
This happened to me the other day when a friend sent me a post from a major evangelical theological writer and speaker and asked my opinion. I read the article several times. I spend time reading the Bible and so I applied what I read to critique that article.
I went from questioning, to alarmed, to ticked, to befuddled- to even more ticked and questioning the sanity of- this in the past very significant evangelical leader. He dropped about 650 points on my respect level from this one post.
Others reacted much the same way I did in thinking this post was…way, way off.
While riding my bike in a post-DAWG mindset the thought occurred to me: “Ya, well, people who teach grace like you ought to be gracious. He was confused, upset, and short-sighted when he wrote the article he shouldn’t have posted. You have received grace. So be gracious. Disagree. But don’t be a hater.”
It’s so easy for my own self-righteousness to cut off fellowship with a true believer.
Pretty sure the thought in the previous paragraph came from the Holy Spirit. I don’t naturally generate that kind of character.
Hang around Jesus long enough and consistently enough in your DAWG, and you will be able to help people and yourself analyze difficult social issues from a Biblical perspective. And when others get it wrong, you might be surprised at how grace can cause you to love a brother and not write them off.
I was.
You take it to heart,
Pete Alwinson
