Comments on: What is Gracious Christianity? (1) http://sivinkit.net/archives/2558 happenings in my head and heart this side of heaven Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:39:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 By: Sivin Kit http://sivinkit.net/archives/2558#comment-3184 Sivin Kit Wed, 06 Jun 2007 11:11:49 +0000 http://sivinkit.net/archives/2558#comment-3184 Lilian - Thanks for your encouragement. I was browsing an Asian Beacon today and guess who did I see? :-) Paul Long and Rev. Wong Fong Yang was in the same picture. I think very often we are tempted to sweep our differences under the carpet or are unable to (1) Make effort first to listen to the other (2) Understand the story behind the questions or answers we are articulating (3) Differentiate between tolerance and respect, and (4) offer graciousness before coming to an agreement. Lots to learn in this area. One thing you highlighted is right on ... we need to "personally and continually experience God’s grace in our own lives first." :-) Lilian - Thanks for your encouragement. I was browsing an Asian Beacon today and guess who did I see? :-) Paul Long and Rev. Wong Fong Yang was in the same picture.

I think very often we are tempted to sweep our differences under the carpet or are unable to (1) Make effort first to listen to the other (2) Understand the story behind the questions or answers we are articulating (3) Differentiate between tolerance and respect, and (4) offer graciousness before coming to an agreement.

Lots to learn in this area. One thing you highlighted is right on … we need to “personally and continually experience God’s grace in our own lives first.” :-)

]]> By: Lilian Koh http://sivinkit.net/archives/2558#comment-3012 Lilian Koh Wed, 30 May 2007 06:59:43 +0000 http://sivinkit.net/archives/2558#comment-3012 Hi Sivin, I have enjoyed my visits to BLC. I appreciate how the young adults (I'm comparatively old!) are the ones playing an active role in the church and with your guidance would be able to mature into their leadership roles. This course on Gracious Christianity you are teaching sounds interesting. It does seem like it will help people move beyond head knowledge to the praxis of "loving our neighbour as ourselves". Many challenges: e.g. what does that mean when we hold different doctrinal views? what does it mean when we have different opinions about how to run a ministry? In churches many of the problems and conflicts are due to ungracious attitudes between Christians. Sometimes things are swept under the carpet - mere 'niceness' to one another and not wanting to really talk about and try to understand each others' perspectives. At the end of the day, I guess it makes a lot of difference if we personally and continually experience God's grace in our own lives first. Hi Sivin, I have enjoyed my visits to BLC. I appreciate how the young adults (I’m comparatively old!) are the ones playing an active role in the church and with your guidance would be able to mature into their leadership roles. This course on Gracious Christianity you are teaching sounds interesting. It does seem like it will help people move beyond head knowledge to the praxis of “loving our neighbour as ourselves”. Many challenges: e.g. what does that mean when we hold different doctrinal views? what does it mean when we have different opinions about how to run a ministry? In churches many of the problems and conflicts are due to ungracious attitudes between Christians. Sometimes things are swept under the carpet - mere ‘niceness’ to one another and not wanting to really talk about and try to understand each others’ perspectives. At the end of the day, I guess it makes a lot of difference if we personally and continually experience God’s grace in our own lives first.

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