Poking Hornets

I poked a hornets' nest and got attacked.

I dared to share a controversial article, an opinion, critical of traditional VBS programs. I neither condoned nor condemned the article, I simply posted it. It seemed thought provoking and challenging. It was not completely correct in its assessment, but it wasn’t completely wrong either.

Because I offered no comment, there was an underlying assumption that I agreed with everything written. Even more, it was assumed that I offered the article as an attack on VBS, VBS workers, moms who send their kids to VBS, and all children's programs, everywhere, in every church around the world. Okay, that is an exaggeration, but it felt fairly close to that. In the true, loving, Christian spirit of discourse on faith and ministry, I was attacked, ridiculed and berated, through drama dripping sarcasm and flippancy, while others stood on the sidelines and cheered. My attempted apology for being offensive, and my explanation of intent was ignored for the sake of piling on the ridicule.

This is not the first time this has happened, and it won't be the last. When I post such articles, I know there is an inherent risk. I have come to accept, even embrace the risk. I have become somewhat amused by the fallout that invariably happens, but mostly I am saddened that we have gotten this  point in our culture, especially in our Christian culture. It has become unacceptable to question anything. Rational, thoughtful, respectful, discourse amongst people with opposing views, is a rarity. Much more the norm is digging into a defensive position, even before listening fully to the (assumed) “opposing” opinion, then lunging quickly into an emotional counter attack.

Even before it has had a chance to begin, reasonable discourse dies. When emotion rules the conversation, peaceful negotiations become impossible. What could have been gain for both sides, instead becomes loss for both. The resulting form of “peace” only comes when one side surrenders, usually by simply ceasing to comment further. But the passive surrender does  not give any sense of victory, instead it widens the gap that allows rational people to disagree and remain friends, or, if we believe what say, it increases the hypocrisy of calling each other “brothers” and “sisters” in Christ. The dysfunction of our family rears its ugly head, again, and we show, again, how far removed we are from the ideal we envy in the Acts 2 church.

With each hornet’s nest I poke, however, there are glimmers of hope. There is always someone who contributes thoughtful responses. In the midst of the swarm, there is someone thinking, contemplating, and doing some self evaluation. Despite the flurry of expressed emotions, there is someone challenged, who is a little less fearful to question themselves in a way that might lead to living out their faith better. I know, because, away from the public buzzing, they tell me so. That is why I will do it again. I will thank those who respond thoughtfully and respectfully and try to encourage them to continue to question, to think, to enter controversial discourse without malice and to avoid the bullying that has become the norm. To those who attack, I will respond as politely as I can and simply let them vent, even if it means that I become the target of their attacks. For some, it seems, a good blood letting is therapeutic, so if it helps to do so at my expense, so be it. Someday, maybe, they will come to embrace me not as the malicious enemy of all sacred cows, but a brother who wants to challenge us to think rightly, righteously, to change, even if in painful ways, to serve our Lord and King best, not just serve in ways that are pleasing to us and continue to keep us comfortable.