I’ve had the tag line “Without disagreement, nothing can be learned” on my blog for quite a while now. I can’t remember where it came from but I like it, even though I don’t think a blog is generally a good place to work through disagreement. You can say something disagreeable on a blog. You can register disagreement in a comment. But I don’t think you can discuss disagreements very well in such a forum. I’d much rather process disagreement face to face. It’s easer to make faces and throw punches that way.
I still think my tag line is true. Disagreement is not necessarily a bad thing. We need not always be pushing a discussion toward agreement or consensus.
In The Burning Word, Judith Kunst articulates why this is so. In the context of describing a student-led college Bible study where they engaged in spirited debate about the meaning of various passages of scripture she says:
Fierce questions arose in our discussions of these passage, and frustrating arguments divided our group so deeply that the leader finally declared a moratorium on questions and moved us to scriptures that were easier to understand–interpretations that were easier to agree upon.
I wish now now we had recognized that in the midst of those arguments we were on holy ground. Painful though it was to ask questions of scripture and not find answers that satisfied us, it would have helped to ponder the fact that it was the text itself that raised them, that by its very difficulty the text was calling out to us. God was calling us through each syllable to these troubling words, inviting us to turn them in our hearts and minds and mouths, and to be turned by them, mysteriously and uncomfortably, toward God.
Most of us aren’t very good at disagreeing with others, especially about the meaning of scripture. Such disagreements usually lead to severe divisions. That’s because we believe there can only be one correct interpretation of a given passage. The tradition of Midrash, which Kunst is encouraging in her book, embraces disagreement over multiple interpretations as a way of growing closer to God and learning new things from his Word.
Is it possible for Christians to be able to read scripture and disagree with each other’s interpretations in such a way that instead of leaving, we learn from each other?
I once got an email from a guy who quoted my tag line and then said, “That’s sad.”
I responded with an email that said, “I disagree.”
Telling Stories, Asking Questions, Learning Lessons
Great post. I am trying to find something to disagree with here…
Given several years ago, I would have disagreed strongly. In my learning, studying and growing, I have come to believe that God deals with individuals and he works with them in different ways. Therefore, I have come to the conclusion that scripture can be viewed from different perspectives without having different results, I think!
Anyway, I am still groping for what I truly believe and would like any thoughts you might have. I enjoyed today’s post.
I think most want agreement because then I am “safe” and therefore saved. The most impacting realization for me in the past few years is that all scripture is inspired but not all scripture is gospel. Gospel is scripture but not all scripture is gospel. By viewing the Bible in this context, it gives a whole new meaning to interpretation. At least it has for me, but I am still learning and growing!
I pretty much disagree on everything you’ve ever posted on this blog. Does that make me smart since I’ve learned so much? 🙂
Seriously…
Imagine what families, the church, and the world would be like if actually learned to dialogue in our differences. Wow.
I have to agree with Peggy from Texas. It’s safe to always agree but my personal nature is to disagree – a lot. Not that I disagree with people just for the sake of disagreeing but, well I think sometimes I do. I must admit though I hate it when someone in my churches leadership disagrees with me. It came home to me last night…Enough rambling though…I can post this on my own blog.
Good post Wade.
So far, the most annoying comment I’ve received on my blog was an anonymous one: “You’re wrong.” I thought about responding, “You may be right.”
But I just deleted it.
Discourse has value. Argumentation has value. Differences have value.
Arrogance has no value.
Wade,
If there was no disagreement the Restoration Churches would still embrace the ideals of the founders. And further, if there had not been disagreements the last several decades the churches of Christ would have already been only a history lesson.
Honest disagreement has led many from the yoke of legalism to freedom in Christ, from the fear of being lost to the joy of assurance based wholly on Jesus and His work on our behalf, and from hatred and bigotry to unconditional love.
Royce,
Amen brother!
Disagreement may be one way to learn. But I think it is a bit dramatic to say that without it, nothing is learned. There are alot of things I have to learn that I don’t necessarily need to have a disagreement over. Like how do the Cubs keep losing? If anyone knows the answer I’ll take your word for it.
From the perspective of an educator, comparing and contrasting – which is very similar to disagreement – is one of the best ways to encourage students to grasp complex concepts and to think deeply about the world around them.
To squelch disagreement is to make everyone toe the line which turns into dogmatic legalism. There were certainly some disagreements among the apostles and between the 1st century Christians that led to some of the most beautiful and powerful passages in the New Testament.
How is iron to sharpen iron if it does not clash at times?