Check out this Newsweek article concerning a friend of mine, Dr. Richard Colling. Dr. Colling is a biology prof at Olivet Nazarene University whose book, “Random Designer,” lays out a case for darwinian creationism. Though Rick and I differ on some theological issues, his right to speak his mind and tell the truth in his classes at Olivet has been hampered, in my mind illegally because of his tenure. This is a discussion amongst Nazarenes concerning the article and the issue in general. The Nazarenes on this discussion site tend to be fairly open-minded.
The Church of the Nazarene is not fundamentalist on paper, but in practice it is very much so. I have great respect for those Nazarenes I know who have liberal thoughts and are choosing to remain in the denomination. I also fear for their future should they ever speak out, and for their spiritual health if they don’t. May this article remind all of us of the nastiness of wrong-headed religion.
Just want to say that I’m glad your journey brought you into the Church of the Nazarene for a while. May your continued ministry be blessed.
Marsha
While the sentiment remains, this isn’t where I expected this comment to land. It was intended for your “spiritual bio” post.
While I’m here, I may as well comment on your concern for my future in the Church of the Nazarene if I speak out and my spiritual health if I don’t (assuming I made the cut for being a liberal-minded Nazarene
).
1. I’ve discovered that it’s much easier to be a layperson in the church than a minister. The theology police aren’t nearly so worried about people of little influence.
2. It’s amazing what you can say if you express it with enough love.
3. It’s amazing what you can resist saying without undue angst when love is your top priority.
4. It’s amazing how much it helps to know that even when you’re out in the jungle by yourself and feeling very alone, you’re not really alone, that there are others who see your “radical” views as obvious truth, or at least worth consideration.
5. In contrast to George Orwell’s vision of the future, the human race has yet to develop the ability to police people’s thoughts. They can pounce on you for what slips out of your mouth, but there’s no penalty for thinking.
My story is different than yours. I didn’t start out in space nearly so cramped as you did theologically. Although I went through quite a struggle when I moved to southwest Indiana and encountered a higher standard of ‘holiness’, I am finding it easier at this stage in my life to take a “live and let live” attitude towards those around me. Maybe one could call it grace. Even as I have received it in abundance from the God who seems to have taken a personal liking to me (along with every other particle of His creation), I’m learning to grant it.
I guess I was thinking in particular about ministers, though I know plenty of open-minded Nazarene laypersons like you.
It’s different for ministers because most Nazarenes in positions of power still believe in a literal, fiery hell, and ministers like me are seen as potentially leading people to that place. That’ll create some real passion to get non-conformists out of the pulpit. Not that that’s what happened in my case. I never said anything from the pulpit or in a classroom that was non- or anti-Nazarene. I just knew that I couldn’t keep that going any longer.
Hello my friend
It seems that you are doing well.
God Bless.
Hey! Great to hear from you. I am doing well. I hope you are, too.
We are making our way through this eventful time. All that is hidden will be revealed, it just may take some time.
God is faithful.