DM: Now you seem to indicate here that our discussion over differences strain our relationship with you. Can you explain this?
BT: Your statement is far too general, David. It is not every discussion over differences that strains relationships. Some people know how to disagree without being jerks in the process. Some methodologies are better than others. When people know that you care about them as persons, it makes a difference. And so it is not THAT you disagree nearly as much as it is HOW you disagree, that relationships are or are not strained. DM: Do you think that theological agreement is what binds us together as brothers and sisters in Christ? BT: No, quite the opposite, in fact. DM: It certainly seems that theological agreement plays a very important relationship role to guys like you and John Smithson. BT: David, quite often people say things with which I disagree, but I do not take issue with them on every occasion that this happens. In fact, I am content on most occasions to let things go, unless I see it as something very central to a right understanding of the Gospel. I do this because I believe it is better to build relationships with people and then let the relationship itself be the thing that opens the door to a possible teaching opportunity. I do find it strange, David, that you and Judy are the only two on this site who use the response "You don't know me." You've both been here a long time. Unless you act substantially different in the "real" world than you do here on the net, I don't know why you would say that. We spend day after day after day getting to know each other here. We see each other's good sides and we see each other's bad sides. We talk about things that people in the real world seldom have time to bother with. We talk about the things that matter most. We know where people are, what they like, and what they dislike. We know what people do, where they go to church, what books they read, what movies they watch, what music they listen to. We know their politics, their philosophies, their theology -- even their poetry :>) We know their character, their temperament, their personality. We know who's funny; we know who's not. I don't get it, David: What is it that would make you think we don't know you? ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
