Ken Silva, creator of Apprising Ministries (ministry formed in response to the Great Emergence, which he believes to be unChristian), needs to receive some lovin’ from those of us he deems to be heretics. I think Jonathan Brink said it well in his recent post “We Love You Ken Silva”. This does not come naturally for me, as I am usually one who will supply a quick-witted response who challenges me, but I believe Christians are to known by our love – our love for God, and our love for others. I have never been challenged by Ken directly, and for that matter, the only thing he ever said directly to me was gentle and kind. So I feel particularly inclined to show this love to Ken. I have to admit, though, that he has frustrated me with his ministry and comments on his website, and slander of my friends. Actually, anything I read by him other than his one gracious comment on my humble blog, greatly angers me and hurts me and looks very unlovely and …. But what will I do with that?
I remember the day I met Doug Pagitt and Tony Jones. I had been listening to the critics of EC and was becoming convinced that it was really scary. But I knew I had to find out for myself. I “met” Tony by going to his blog and asking him very directly about the rumors I found most disturbing. I was glad to find out that much of what was being said was taken out of context and was, in fact, not true. I was shocked, in fact, to later discover that the most heinous rumors about him were created by chopping up bits and pieces of his book, The Sacred Way, and putting them together to make it sound like he worships small statues he keeps in his pocket. Anyway, the day I actually met Doug and Tony, in person, is a day I will never forget for many reasons. But I have heard Doug’s exhortation to me echo in my soul many, many times over since: When they slander and lie and hurt us we must respond not in kind, but in love. He didn’t use those words, his were way better, almost poetic. And as deep cries out to deep, I could feel the Holy Spirit in this gentle giant as he looked into my eyes and encouraged me to forge ahead in my pursuit of Jesus, showing compassion and mercy to those who would seek to hurt me. I am hearing that message again through Jonathan, and it is so difficult, yet so touching, for me to hear it that I am posting here all about it!
Here’s where I struggle though: I live with this fear that if I do not correct others when they slander someone then bad things will happen. For instance, when I found out that the idol-worshiping rumor was not true about Tony, I launched into this campaign among my friends to show them the truth about him, but they wouldn’t listen to me because I had already declared myself a friend to him. So I panicked, thinking that more and more people would buy into the lie, and then this movement of God might not reach people who are so desperate for change in their lives. I kinda got hell-bent for a while (very punny, huh?) trying to convince my friends that EC was really a move of God. The harder I tried to show them what I had found the faster they ran in the other direction. They had been told that they might be deceived by Satan like I had been so they closed their ears to me and treated me as though I had joined a cult. Thankfully, I have settled into the realization that they won’t be shown, and our conversations no longer steer in that direction. I say thankfully only because of the destructive nature of quarrels, but on the inside it still irks me that I was not a reliable source to them.
Which brings me back to people like Ken Silva, who make it their life’s work, it seems, to bring other people’s ministries down. I want to fight, to respond in kind, to scream and shout if I have to, to make them stop hurting people and telling lies about people I care very much about. I want to make them unite and move forward in God’s redemptive plan for this world and its people, rather than continue to bring division and discord. That is what I want to do. But I feel like Jesus is ever-pressing me to trust in him to do his will, and to be a participant in it whatever the cost. I feel like he is telling me not to fear, reminding me that I am not responsible for the saving of the world – but rather an active member of a body of believers who are at work in this world bringing his grace, mercy, peace and love to the lives of others. And how am I to bring his love to the lives of others? By insisting that I am right? Or by turning the other cheek and walking red-faced through this world; humbly serving others and loving them as myself?
