So They Say. Robert H. Mounce

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      Genuine friendship is a wonderful relationship. I would hope that a respectful relationship between those of differing ideals can exist as well. A major step toward that goal is to treat the other as we would have the other treat us. Of course that is what the New Testament teaches as the Golden Rule.

      Careful with words!

      Margaret Thatcher once wrote that to her “consensus seems to be the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies. So it is something in which no one believes and to which no one objects.” No wonder she earned the title “Iron Lady”! Many would hold that consensus is the guiding principle of informed society. Isn’t that how people work together for the common good?

      Giving her the latitude that comes with her “seems to be,” it is still remarkable that a major player in the Western world (Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990) would call into question a principle so widely accepted.

      So what’s the problem (if there is one) with consensus? It depends upon what one means by the word. Most often “consensus” is used to denote the opinion of the majority. Two groups meet and, after discussion, release a “consensus opinion” that they will follow plan A rather than plan B. But the more basic meaning of the word is “general agreement or concord.” To have a consensus means to be in agreement. That is different. Dr. Thatcher’s concern was that people of differing persuasions often abandon their principles to arrive at what seems to be a “workable solution.” On a given subject, two political parties may well share a common goal but differ on how to achieve it. If they discuss the issue in an open and honest manner, both sides may come to see some practical insight on how best to solve the problem. Then, if they adjust their approach somewhat, they have not compromised their principles but have reached a consensus on how to arrive where they both want to be.

      Since the beginning of time, people of principal have brought stability to society. They could be counted on to do exactly what they said. I believe in firmness in principle but flexibility in process.

      How to prevent the inevitable

      The other evening Dr. Phil reminded one of his guests, “You can’t unring a bell.” Once the clapper hits the bell, that’s it. There is no way to stop the ring. Actions inevitably have consequences. We all recognize the truth of this in our everyday world. Touch a hot stove and you burn your finger. But when it comes to the world of relationships, we tend to act as though consequentiality doesn’t exist.

      Why is that? Why do we keep doing what experience has clearly shown to produce the same unwanted result. Do we hope that next time it will be different? Perhaps 2 + 2 will = 5 . . . next time. I don’t think that’s the answer. We know that excessive speed will, in time, end up in an accident or a traffic fine. But we exceed the posted speed limit anyway.

      I think we ignore the law of cause and effect because we want so desperately to do whatever it is. Consequence doesn’t matter.

      “Go ahead and have the extra drink; don’t remind me how gruesome an accident on the road can be.

      “Pass on the bit of gossip you’ve heard; don’t make me think about integrity being undermined by passing on information damaging to another.

      “Check out the questionable picture on the internet; at the moment I don’t care about the life-destroying power of addiction. I’m going to go ahead and do it because I want to.”

      We know it will never bring any lasting satisfaction but we do it anyway. Desire dominates and we lunge forward. However, there is an alternative to failure. The bell won’t ring unless it is struck. The unwanted consequence won’t happen unless the action is taken. We understand that intellectually, but insight seems always to be trumped by desire. The missing ingredient so far is volitional — nothing less than the internal strength to say No. For the Christian, that strength is provided by the abiding presence of the Spirit. However, even then his help must be requested.

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