“Deliberately Diverse” represents the individual thoughts and opinions of a group of Taylor friends who almost never completely agree about anything but are gratified by the opportunity to stimulate deliberately diverse discussions in our beloved community.
Today’s column represents the thoughts and opinions of the Reverend Terry Pierce, NOT the Taylor Press.
I am preparing this article on election day before we know the results, and before what sounds to be, based on various Facebook and other media conversations, a controversial Taylor City Council meeting. As an Episcopal priest and pastor and a concerned, engaged citizen, I often find myself wondering how the love of God and neighbor intersects with civil and social disagreements. John Wesley was an ordained priest in the Anglican church in England who started a revival movement that led to the formation of the Methodist Church. It was not his intent to start a new church; he was concerned with reviving the life of the church. His revival developed its own life, based on a particular theology and social consciousness that emphasized both the ritual of the Book of Common Prayer and the preaching of the Word. He drew together the manner of worship of traditionalist and non-conformist.
On Oct. 6, 1774, John Wesley wrote in his journal:
“I met those of our society who had votes in the ensuing election, and advised them
1. To vote, without fee or reward, for the person they judged most worthy
2. To speak no evil of the person they voted against, and
3. To take care their spirits
were not sharpened against those that voted on the other side.”
I am trying to determine how I apply that advice in situations where I have strong opinions: I am a deeply believing Christian. At the same time, I don’t believe anyone should be excluded from community events and celebrations. On Christmas, I want to share how deeply God loves all that God created and I want all people, whether they share my particular beliefs or not, to be able to joyfully participate. John Wesley reminds me that I am not called to be sharp or unkind to those I disagree with; that does not mean, I don’t think, that I must be silent in order to avoid controversy.
Similar issues arise for me in the controversies of this day and time: Should the government be involved in my health decisions? I think not. Is the climate crisis real and does it call for our attention? I think so. Is the Federal Reserve taking the best actions relative to inflation? I just don’t know!
Heaven, I think, is not a place, but a relationship with God that can be experienced in daily life by practicing love of God and neighbor. Following Wesley’s advice, I am called to speak out for those ideas or people I think worthy, to listen carefully and to not sharpen my spirits against those who disagree with me.
— The Reverend Terry Pierce, Vicar St. James’ Episcopal Church, Taylor
