Red and white

This is worth a read:

Do not count it a triumph, reverend Sosipater, that you are denouncing a cult or a point of view which does not seem to be good. And do not imagine that, having thoroughly refuted it, all is therefore well with Sosipater. For it could happen that the one hidden truth could escape both you and others in the midst of falsehood and appearances. What is not red does not have to be white. What is not a horse is not necessarily a human. This is what you will do if you trust me. You will cease from the denunciation of others and you will speak about truth in such a manner that everything you say will be irrefutable. (Pseudo-Dionysius)

“What is not red does not have to be white. What is not a horse is not necessarily a human.” It’s easy to make such logical errors, especially in an emotionally charged situation. Such as that in our church at the moment. A large portion of the congregation is at loggerheads with the vicar, to the extent of wanting to take legal action to have him removed. At root, the issue seems to be one of control and trust. A certain group of people were used to having their own way, and the new vicar arrived a few years ago with the idea that he should run the church.
After two or three years of this, the vicar had a breakdown and is still not well. Unfortunately, as a result of his actions and those of others, there is a dreadful breakdown of trust in the church, with many people unwilling to work alongside him or even take communion with him. Many people have left the church completely and others come only when the vicar is away on holiday.
What’s the connection with the above quotation? People seem to be so wrapped up in airing their own grievances and showing that the other parties are wrong that they forget to look and see whether they themselves are right. Seeing that the other person is red, they forget that they themselves might not be white; seeing a horse, they imagine that they must be human by comparison.
Today, we had a conciliation meeting, which seemed to go quite well – insofar as lots of people shared their feelings. Hopefully, it will go beyond sharing and reach healing and forgiveness.

pax et bonum

Article posted at 7:47pm on 28 September 2004
Category: Faith, Struggling