By Andy Hale
Don’t you wish you could snap your fingers, and the tension within our culture would disappear? Okay, at least in the church. Shouldn’t that be the place where we can go to find relief from the constant anxiety?
Sadly, the church seems to be one of the most contentious places today, with debates over human sexuality and gender identity, racism, political allegiances, policy, and on and on. Some see this as an issue of right and wrong, biblical and unbiblical, good and evil. In contrast, others see this as an issue of basic human rights, biblical, and inclusivity.
How in the world do we cultivate conversations among the two polarizing views of these conversations?
“Most of our fights start over trivial issues and escalate to absurd levels. It’s a good reminder of how easily even those we care about the most can start to feel like problems to solve rather than people to love,” said Dr. John Inazu on the CBF Podcast Conversation.
Inazu, the professor of law and religion at Washington University, sat down with us to discuss navigating difference, the central focus of his new book, Learning to Disagree.
Listen here.
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- The Gardner-Webb School of Divinity: The Gardner-Webb University School of Divinity aims to equip, nurture, encourage, and support men and women for their very best service in the Kingdom of God.
- The Center for Congregational Health: Strengthening congregations through consulting, leadership coaching, and intentional ministry.
- The Baptist House of Studies at Union Presbyterian Seminary: Exists by God’s grace to educate, inspire, and support generations of bold, faithful servant leaders as they seek actively to participate in God’s mission in the world.
- Community Transformation Center: Through educational opportunities, community conversations, and research initiatives in collaboration with universities and local leaders, PBACTC is at the forefront of integrating spiritual care into holistic community development.
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Andy Hale is the creator and host of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Podcast. Hale is the Associate Executive Coordinator of CBF North Carolina. He’s also served as CBF’s Church Start Specialist, the founding pastor of Mosaic Church of Clayton, and the senior pastor of University Baptist Church of Baton Rouge. Follow on Twitter @haleandy.