Christians in America looking to moderate themselves

Today I was reading the news and ran across a link to something called The Evangelical Manifesto. This isn’t from all members of that community, but only those who wrote it. The authors have said the main goal is to get a conversation started among believers as a starting point for some needed reforms in their community (their words, not mine).

In any case, I see this a something that gives me hope.

I would love to see people of faith able to live their beliefs publicly and openly, yet without forcing them on others, just as I would love to see people who do not believe in spiritual things able to live their lives in freedom without forcing others to give up their beliefs. If this manifesto were actually accepted by most Christians, it could have a positive impact in each of these directions.

I have also noticed that it is beginning to give rise to a positive sounding conversation among Jews and Muslims as well.

In a large community, I would like to see room for everyone to feel welcome. Part of what this requires is a maturity within the individuals in a diverse setting. With that maturity comes a sense of security that is not easily shaken by the presence of others who believe differently, making it far less difficult to take offense when someone says or embraces something you do not like.

I wonder what sort of comments I’ll find on this post…I’ve posted similar thoughts before.

16 comments May 10th, 2008