Conference

I’m writing during the JAMA New Awakening Conference in Anaheim this week. Being here gives me time to reflect on several points.

This is a mega-conference, meaning it’s supposed to be several different tracks all in one – pastors, college, singles, youth, healthcare professionals, marketplace leaders, and others. I like the idea of having opportunities for all of God’s people to gather; we’re so used to having everyone segregated in different groups that it’s easy to think the church is more like me. We need times to gather with others.

That said, 1) it’s still so Korean American in focus that it is still not a great representation of God’s diversity and unity, and 2) with a gathering of many different people, you have many different views and ideas to sort through. Even among the speakers, there are many different ideas and opinions. But that is God’s church. There is diversity. There are different opinions. We agree to unity in the essentials and liberty in the non-essentials. This allows me to maintain and even pursue greater fellowship with the larger Body of Christ.

Then, if we are to be more open, to engage those who come in the name of Christ but walk a different way, and if we are to admit that our congregants will always be doing so in their peer groups, at their workplaces, in their neighborhoods, etc., then we must do a very good job of educating and discipling our church members to know what is essential and what is non-essential. Along with grounding them in sound Biblical doctrine and a deep understanding of the Gospel, we must disciple them to interact with those of differing opinions in a gracious manner, not in a proud or condescending or, yea, judgmental way. Pursue and convey truth, in love.

Final thought: too often we let those sitting under preachers fall into worship of the preachers, even ourselves. But we must always teach them to worship God.