It seems that the use of inappropriate metaphors is a common problem in Christian discourse. A clear example of this occurred in the aftermath of the annual meeting of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The BGCT met the last two days, where they elected their first female president. A few bloggers have been criticizing some BGCT leaders lately and supported a couple of unsuccessful candidates for various offices, including president. One of the bloggers, David Montoya, has been fairly bitter in his writings in response to the annual meeting. However, his worst comment came in a post yesterday when he wrote the following:
Montoya should apologize to his brothers and sisters in Christ and refrain from using such inappropriate and perverted metaphors. Regardless how much we may disagree, we must continue to treat other members of the Body in a Christlike manner. I have dealt more fully with inappropriate metaphors--including the cancer one and others that pervert the Body of Christ metaphor--in my book (For God's Sake, Shut Up!) and in a couple of columns (Animals to kill and Doggone metaphors).
Yes, change seems to be coming, but the shadow convention and all wannabees are still a cancerous lump in body politic.Montoya called his brothers and sisters in Christ "a cancerous lump." Such is a comment is inappropriate and unbiblical. He perverts the biblical metaphor of the Body of Christ by comparing some of his fellow members of the Body to something that one tries to remove and kill. This metaphor makes his brothers and sisters out to be not only non-Christians but anti-Christians. As a result, he seems to have a god complex and has exalted himself as judge over the souls of others. No matter how much we may disagree with each other, such rhetoric is completely inappropriate in Christian debates. This rhetoric of comparing someone to something that people try to kill is even more alarming considering that Montoya calls himself the "Spiritual Samurai"!
Montoya should apologize to his brothers and sisters in Christ and refrain from using such inappropriate and perverted metaphors. Regardless how much we may disagree, we must continue to treat other members of the Body in a Christlike manner. I have dealt more fully with inappropriate metaphors--including the cancer one and others that pervert the Body of Christ metaphor--in my book (For God's Sake, Shut Up!) and in a couple of columns (Animals to kill and Doggone metaphors).
David needs to remember that even if you lose the election you need to work with those who won--just like they would have to work with you had your side won.
ReplyDeleteMost of the time it should not matter greatly who wins. All the candidates are good ones in most elections. But there are times when it does matter and David is very convinced that this was one.
This is a down-side to blogs. We talk to ourselves and our friends and get all convinced that our way is the only way.
Bennett Willis
Bennett, You are spot on right. David and his comments have done much harm to the BGCT. I think that is why the convention voted not to consider the "no confidence" motion. It was not even allowed to be discussed, it would have been really ugly and nasty.
ReplyDeleteBob Cheatheam
Thanks for the comments! You are both right.
ReplyDeleteBennett: You are right about blogs can be bad if we only read those we agree with. Montoya makes the mistake of censoring comments as he does no usually post those that disagree with him, which provides a deceptive level of agreement.
Bob: It is sad that Montoya cannot see that he is part of problem and not the solution.
Bruce Prescott, on his New Baptist Covenant blog, makes the same mistake in not posting dissenting comments for which he has no rebuttal.
ReplyDeleteHe doesn't respond to email requests either.
Chuck: As you know, my policy here is that I allow anyone to post what they think. I believe that is the best policy for blogs.
ReplyDelete