For a couple of years, we quietly held small meetings to discuss people’s quandaries about Christianity. The meetings started with Cornell law students over dinner. Then we met with undergraduates and people from the community at the Cornell House of Prayer. In these meetings, we spent concentrated time in a safe conversation about issues that really bother people about doctrine, spirituality, church practices, and national politics.
This year, our Quandary Conversations have gotten larger. We have met twice at Christian Union’s Mott House for fast paced dialogues about some of the toughest issues of faith. I am grateful to Jake Thomas and his team of leaders for their hospitality.
But we have never held a Quandary Conversation on Sunday morning at BG. Until today. At 11:15 during adult education, we will give you a taste of what these conversations are like and why they matter.
Typically, you might only bring me a hard question privately. These are valuable conversations because we can talk more freely about the often hurtful experiences you have had. Private conversations like this can also extend over weeks and months as we keep track of the issue together.
But there’s a problem. If these questions can only be asked in private, the congregation never develops a way to discuss them together.
Most churches are afraid of what will happen if people ask what is really on their minds. Heated arguments. Hurt feelings. Words spoken that cannot be retrieved. And those are legitimate fears. There won’t be a single issue raised that isn’t emotionally challenging.
If, however, we do not build a safe way to have these discussions, we will remain immature in our relationships. More than that, issues of discipleship that are crying out for guidance will never become clearer to us as a group.
So I hope you will attend the Quandary Conversation today ready to build a new kind of community, one where there is room for hard questions and unresolved matters because of Christ’s love.