Conflict, Censorship & Freedom Within Christian Circles by D Gareth Jones
Reviewed by Mike Crowl
I've spent many years struggling with other people's "rules" for living as a Christian. Amongst other things, these "rules" claimed you were more Christ-like if you owned a house, or if you went to church twice on Sunday. They said you couldn't really be a Christian man if you wore a nightshirt instead of pyjamas. (I kid you not!) So much trivial nonsense is preached in the name of Christ, it's no wonder we struggle when real issues arise.
Gareth Jones' book is about dealing with these more difficult issues, both within and without the Christian community. Having discovered to his cost that Christians frequently don't see eye to eye on doctrine, dogma and ethics - let alone on trivia - he aims in this book to show how we can deal with such dissent...and still love each other.
A decade ago, when some believers didn't agree with statements in one of Professor Jones' books, they accused him of not being a Christian. He had to search his conscience to discern whether he really had "fallen from grace." Later he understood, however, that many quite sincere Christians are unwilling to face challenges to their beliefs. This forces them to back up against the wall and accuse others of falsehood.
The disturbing tendency amongst some evangelicals is to consider that their way of looking at things is the only way. They form pressure groups, which, while worthy in themselves, don't allow for debate. You're either in or out. There's no middle ground, no room for discussion. They focus on single issues to such an extent that the breadth of Christ's love is narrowed down. In the end their know-it-all approach to ethical decisions can be as extreme as the often-existential views of liberal Christians. Or of the Pharisees.
Professor Jones writes that we should therefore learn to discern which of our beliefs are central to our faith, and which are peripheral - and if peripheral, how much so. Without some attempt to define these, our squabbles over some matters may seem puzzling and absurd not only to the secular society of the present but to future generations of Christians.
To show how some matters are more peripheral than central, Professor Jones uses the issue of homosexuality - though he could equally have used abortion, or women in leadership, (or even rock and roll!) By using this "hot potato" he helps us see how we can handle many issues which, though important, are not central to our faith. Central in the sense that the resurrection is, for example.
I found this section brought great clarity to my own often troubled thinking on this and other thorny questions. Professor Jones writes that if we are to live as Christ lived, we must allow ourselves to be vulnerable - and humble. When pride and judging of others abound, we're no better than heathens. He says dissent and controversy are almost unavoidable in the church. But we must have unity in Christ as our base, and aim to work out our differences from there. We must tackle our dissensions in love, not in animosity.
It may be that on some issues we will never reach agreement with other Christians. But Christ prayed that we should be one - not that we would always agree about everything!
There is an excellent section in this book on living as a Christian in the workplace. For some people this is a matter which may bring almost constant conflict, as they try to work in unethical, compromising and ungodly circumstances. Professor Jones always lays out his arguments very clearly. His answers are Biblically-sound and show signs of lengthy consideration. I believe he succeeds admirably in the task he has set himself, and I highly recommend this very readable book. ends
First Published in 1994 by Visjon Publications, 37 Garden Place, Dunedin, New Zealand. Now Available in a UK edition, 1997.
copyright 1997 Mike Crowl
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