Fresh Wind into Our Echo Chambers
by Peter Brokaar
You know that feeling when you open a window to a stuffy room and the cool outside air blows in? The wind touches your skin, ruffles your hair and fresh oxygen hits your lungs. It’s refreshing, invigorating, life-giving!
Recent months I have made an effort to expose myself to Christian teachings from denominational corners I wouldn’t normally align myself with. It has been challenging, but O so refreshing! I realise now how easy it is to become stuck in one’s ways, boxed into our own echo chambers consisting of those who by and large agree with everything we say. We deeply need the whole body of Christ if we are to continue growing and maturing. Did you know that God even speaks to those who disagree with us?
Here are some examples of fresh things I have been gleaning from various denominational perspectives:
The American Southern Baptists helped me think more clearly about Biblical models for Church Governance.
Iranian believers have challenged me deeply on topics of persecution, suffering and perseverance.
Charismatics have inspired me in their whole-hearted faith, enthusiasm and love for the Lord.
A Catholic Bishop shared deep psychological insight, but also an appreciation for aesthetic beauty (which can be missing in the more austere, Protestant expressions of our faith).
Messianic believers helped me learn more about the Jewishness of Jesus and the Bible.
All these rich contributions I mentioned are just from contemporary sources. Imagine how much we could learn if we started looking across the boundaries of time. The Puritans, the Reformers, the Evangelical Revivalists, the Church fathers, the monastic movement, and so many others outside of our cultural moment, could shed light on the Gospel from angles we would have thought of ourselves.
We don’t have to agree with everything we read or listen to. The Bible cautions us to have discernment, and to guard our doctrine carefully. But that is very different from thinking that we and our buddies are the only correct interpreters of God’s revelation. We need others too.
Discernment means rejecting what’s false and holding on to what’s true. But it needs to be paired with the wisdom to know that we understand so little. Help us Lord to be quick to listen, and slow to judge or speak.
Peter Brokaar is Director of Ellel Ministries Scotland and has been there together with his wife Liz since 2005. They have 3 kids, all born in Scotland! In his free time he likes reading, cooking, running and surfing. Being at Ellel Scotland has given him the privilege of getting to know God deeper and sharing that joy with many others.
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