SBC Leadership Conference outlines steps for disagreeing without division

Winsome Conviction: Disagreeing Without Dividing the Church, was held March 14-15 at Steinbach Bible College (SBC) and featured Rick Langer, professor at Biola University. Langer began by asking, “Is winsome conviction worth pursuing and why is it so crucial? Why was it important for 120 church leaders from the EMC, MB, EMMC, MB and other conferences to attend this conference?”

Rick Langer, conference speaker, says attendees need to listen to find out what is in the other person’s “black box.”

In the first session on Friday night, Langer pointed out there is a growing rift in society that has intensified in the last few years. This has grown into something he called “affective polarization” where individuals not only do not agree with each other but also hold disdain for one another.

In answer to the question of why it is important for pastors and church leadership to attend this conference, Langer said, “I really do think that in a lot of my life history, the animosity intention (affective polarization) that I’ve seen has been between the church and the world; and in around six or eight years’ time, I feel like it has moved indoors.”

Langer pointed out that in society, differences such as political disagreements are characterized by viewing the other party as either malicious or misinformed. This predicament gets complicated in disagreements in church because when Christians disagree in theology, “they are saying that the other party got Jesus wrong.” This serious undertone carries the same inflection as an accusation of being a false prophet.

So then, what is the step forward from this dismal condition? How can a group of 120 church leaders make a difference? In an interview, Dave Reimer, president of SBC, spoke of the need for the church to make efforts to stand united. “Nobody knows who is actually speaking for the church because we are so divided.” Langer confessed that even though he knew this conference would not solve all the problems in the church, it might make things a little better. He said in an interview, “I am a huge fan of local efforts on things like this ... You cannot change your country, but you might change your church. You might change your workplace” and other places where you have influence.

In the second session, Langer presented principles of disunity and principles of unity as seen through the eyes of Puritan Jeremiah Burroughs. The principles of unity feature consideration of others, being gracious, and listening to what others have to say. We need to find out what is in the other person’s “black box,” which Langer described as the hidden things within every individual that influence the convictions that they hold. These include background stories, upbringing, and many other influencing factors. Langer encouraged us to listen to others to find out what is in the other person’s “black box” and to share our own reasons and the path that led to our convictions. He likened this to what many teachers tell their students in math class, “show your work.”

Langer allowed time for follow-up questions in each session. In one of these, the point was made that church leadership needs to discern whether certain issues are important enough to expect complete agreement. For the highest level, “absolute conviction,” it is vital to have unity. It becomes less important to agree as an issue goes into “personal conviction” and from there to “matters of taste.”

One might think that a way to remove disagreements in conviction is to be silent and not bother discussing opposing convictions. Langer compared this idea to half-baked banana bread. When we bring our convictions into the world without discussing and testing them in conversation, they are an “unbaked, gooey mess.” But when we engage in dialogue with others who hold contrary convictions, our convictions are “put back into the oven” and are tested and strengthened. We can also be the place for others to “bake” their convictions, but this must be done in love.

This love which we are called to live out in the church is key to having Winsome Convictions: Disagreeing Without Dividing the Church. Even though disagreements are inevitable, our love for one another in disagreement is a powerful witness to Jesus through the church. Langer urged us to not limit our relationships with our fellow brothers and sisters in the church to agape love, which can be just a choice with a huff and side eye, and instead pursue fondness for one another.

In closing, let us recognize that we have different convictions. Let us strive to achieve genuine honest disagreement. This means conversing with people with whom we disagree until we can accurately describe the other’s point of view. We conclude here with the conclusion of the conference: “In the midst of the all the polarization, let me plead with you, first and foremost, let us cultivate fondness.”