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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2022 6:10:49 GMT -8
My daughter went off to college at a Christian university and complained everyone there had "hive mind." I attribute her report to the age group and (in)experience of undergrads. Llet's, for the sake of this discussion, define hive mindedness as - An inability in whole or part to think for oneself,
- An inability to entertain diverse points of view with manners and respect,
- An assumption something is factually correct and/or morally right because it was learned from someone in a position of authority,
- A rigid adherence to the belief there is only one way to think and act about topics that are either unknown, undecided or complex,
- An unexamined expectation of conformity, or that everyone should believe and behave alike.
Let's take core doctrine out of the discussion. Let's assume all Christians have unity over core doctrine. Consider what it might be like to head off to college or start a new job and find the overwhelming majority meet those five criteria. Now, step outside of that word picture and ask yourself how have you avoided hive-mindedness? Keep in mind there are currently seven billion people on the planet and no two of them are identical, yet each bears the image of God within. Apparently, God likes diversity. How do you avoid hive mind? |
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Post by civic on Aug 27, 2022 6:38:09 GMT -8
As a traditional and very conservative Christian living in California all my life and now with all the regulations regarding equality in every way, shape and form imaginable I have had to adopt in the workplace to societies ideals without compromising my personal convictions on issues. It can be a tough line to walk at times without feeling like you might be compromising your beliefs. So my outlook is one where I live in the world but I'm not of the world. I just accept the fact my ideals are not their ideals and I'm to show the love of Christ to them by the way I treat them with love, kindness, compassion, empathy, dignity and respect. I cannot impose my values/morals on others. If someone asks me what I believe I will have that discussion with them and let them know what I believe personally does not effect how I do my job. I can keep them separate without compromising either one. It didn't happen overnight and maybe because I'm getting older now in my early 60's its helped me to see things differently then my 20's-30's when I was full of piss and vinegar lol.
I have learned to love others who think and believe differently then I do not only at work, with friends but most recently within my own family where I have had to deal with some faith crisis , behaviors that are contrary to scripture and love them through their crisis. I have known families and pastors that have had their children commit suicide because they were judged, rejected and felt like an outcast because of the parents christian beliefs. My wife and I made a commitment to each other we would support our children through these trials/crisis and not judge them, but love them through it. I can't begin to tell you how heartbreaking this is and how many tears and sleepless nights we have had because of these situations but we know the love of Christ in a deeper wat through these trials then we did before and we have been changed because of it. So God has worked out good through it and our 2 youngest kids 24 and 31 know we love them ,support them and do not condemn them. In some ways we are even closer now which is ironic.
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Post by gomer on Sept 5, 2022 8:23:57 GMT -8
Christ Himself and His word teach conformity. If one desires to be saved then one must conform unto the words of Christ, His NT word. The NT describes the life of a Christian and one must conform to that life. There is no room for diversity when it comes to the doctrine of Christ: 1 Cor 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. Eph 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, Phl 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Phl 3:16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. 1 Pet 3:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 Jn 1:9-10 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: Denominationalism contradicts the Bible's teaching on unity, like mindedness and the same walk. It was told to Paul from those in the house of Chloe there were diversities/variances and contention at the church located in Corinth, 1 Cor 1:11. These variances and contentions occurred when the Christian at Corinth took liberties with God's word or simply ignored God's word altogether giving rise to error and division. There is no such thing as "unity in diversity".... "The very idea of unity in diversity is self-contradictory. If there exist unity in doctrine, there is no diversity (1 Cor. 1:10), and if there is diversity of error, there is no unity (vs. 11-13). Paul’s exchange with Corinth teaches such concepts to be true and obvious. God knows the mind of humanity better than any theologian, psychologist, or philosopher, and God does not demand the impossible (1 Cor. 10:13). God commands that His followers be “perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” within the boundaries of the Law of Christ (1 Cor. 1:10; 4:6). Paul, likewise, writes through inspiration, “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Eph. 4:4-6). God requires that Christians be perfectly united through the “body,” unified in organization, through the “Spirit,” unified in revelation, through “hope,” unified in aspiration, through the “Lord,” unified in authority, through “faith,” unified in doctrine, through “baptism,” unified in practices, and through “God,” unified in worship. God does not outline the concepts and boundaries of how Christians are to be united and then tell Christians to interpret how they please (2 Peter 1:20)! The teaching that believers can be united within their diverse doctrines, practices, and organizations is not only self-contradictory (i.e. impossible) but it is contrary to what God commands. God commands that Christians “come out from among them [the infidels], and be ye separate, saith the Lord” (2 Cor. 6:17). God wants the Christian, the church to stand out in a world of immorality, not blend in with the crowd. The concept of unity in diversity cannot be found in the Word of God!" aberdeen.church/unity-in-diversity/Christians are diverse in race, sex, nationality, wealth, social statue but all Christians are ONE in Christ and are to have unity of the Spirit minding the same thing, walking according to the same rule. Christ's prayer to His Father about His disciples that that all may be one, John 17:21.... "The advocates of unity-in-diversity often appeal to John 17:20-21 as a text that supports their position. Jesus is praying in this chapter. He states: “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” It is hard to imagine that a text that advocates oneness would be used to support unity-in-diversity, but it is. The unity-in-diversity advocates emphasize three words, “believe on me.” They teach that it is faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God that unites. All believers, they say, are one. Beliefs about particular doctrines, we are told, should not destroy unity as long as all hold to the belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
In the immediate context, Jesus desires a unity among His followers likened unto the oneness that exists between the Father and the Son. Jesus said: “…as thou Father art in me, and I in thee…” Is the oneness that exists between the Father and the Son a perfect unity in all points, or, is it a “unity-in-diversity” type of oneness? The answer is obvious. There is complete agreement between the Father and the Son. This is the type of oneness that is to unite the disciples of Jesus Christ. The prophet of old put it well when he asked: “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3).
Let’s look at two examples that destroy the reasoning that says that belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God is all that is needed for unity. In the first century church, Judaizing teachers arose, “and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved” (Acts 15:1). These false teachers did not deny that Jesus is the Son of God. Paul, however, opposed these teachers vehemently. At the Jerusalem council, he “...gave place by subjection…” to them, “no, not for an hour” (Gal. 2:5). In the Galatian epistle, he desired for these men to be “cut off” (Gal. 5:12). Paul believed that the gospel they taught was “another gospel,” another of a different kind (Gal. 1:6-7). He pronounced a curse of Anathema upon all those who taught this false doctrine (Gal. 1:8-9). Why the concern, if doctrine doesn’t matter? Why didn’t Paul just agree to disagree with these Judaizing teachers. They could have had a wonderful “oneness” in unity-in-diversity.
Another example is found in II Timothy 2:17-18. Two men, Hymenaeus and Philetus taught “that the resurrection is past already.” Paul said that their teaching was error, and that it was overthrowing the faith of some. If doctrine doesn’t matter, how could this be possible? These two men did not deny that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. They were just a little off on the time of the resurrection. Why didn’t Paul engage in unity-in-diversity with these men? The reality is that doctrine does matter. There is one truth, one sound doctrine, one faith (Eph. 4:5). Those who believe and practice it can have unity. Those who do not should be marked and avoided (Rom. 16:17-18)."www.oceansidechurchofchrist.net/GiveAnAnswer/2012/John_17_20-21__Unity_in_Diversity.html(my emp) |
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