Truth & Tolerance

How to respectfully disagree

by Rev. Rich Maurer

It almost sounds like the first line of a joke—“a Buddhist, an atheist and an inter-faith minister walked into my office”—except that it really happened. For the past five months I have been hosting a “Dynamic Diversity Dialogue” in our church office. It all began last April, when our local school board cancelled “Diversity Days”—a high-school program that was to include a homosexual speaker. Let me draw the battle lines for you.

Ours is a rural county in Wisconsin that historically has been very conservative. In contrast, the most rapidly growing segment of our population are liberal thinkers and activists, attracted in part by the presence of the largest organic food distributor in North America. When Diversity Days was cancelled, letters to the editor flooded our local newspaper, and debates ensued. The controversy even went national when it was lampooned by Jay Leno on the “Tonight Show” and supported by several white supremacist organizations. This was bigger than our annual pig-wrestling contest.

One woman responded to my editorial letter and thanked me for my firm but compassionate words. She invited me to discuss the issue of homosexuality and diversity further with herself and a few others. We have met six times, and apart from two visits from members of our church, I have been the lone evangelical voice. People are intrigued that an evangelical minister would even want to talk with them.

Don’t misunderstand—I speak the truth with boldness. We have spoken at great length about sin, heaven and hell. On two occasions I have clearly said that my goal is to convert them all. I have presented a defense of the authority and reliability of Scripture that would easily satisfy an ordination council. I have spoken of many of the hard sayings of Jesus to those who want to reduce our Lord and Savior to an inner-consciousness or all-around nice guy. They don’t let me off easily, though. They direct difficult questions to me, such as, “What would you say to my gay nephew who is struggling with his faith and his homosexual urges?” and, “How does it make you feel when you know we are all going to hell?”

One highlight occurred recently when a newcomer attempted to summarize what she thought to be my thinking: “All homosexuals are going to burn in hell.” Three different group members stepped in to more accurately present my viewpoint in the face of this caricature of hatred and intolerance.

Why would those who hold a polar-opposite viewpoint seek to diligently defend me? The answer is that I have approached this divisive subject, and each individual, with kindness and respect, instead of battling them with verbal firebrands. I don’t take the credit for this, for I know that God is sanctifying my contentious spirit through this dialogue. Furthermore, each person I have met has been remarkably kind—sadly, more than many Christians I have known.

So far, none of the members have fallen down in repentance, and I don’t know that this format can be packaged into a neat, evangelistic program for the local church. But I do know that many will listen to truth when it is spoken in genuine love from a heart that is committed to listen as well.

Rich Maurer is pastor of Grace Church (EFC) in Viroqua, Wis.