CLP
For the uninitiated (by the way, I've wondered before just how many of the by-log readers would, if pressed, label themselves Mennonite ... I'm guessing 60-70%), CLP is Christian Light Publications, probably the most prolific conservative Mennonite publisher. They publish books, Sunday School materials, gospel tracts, even a school curriculum.
From my perspective, as a "progressive" conservative Mennonite (this just means that I don't particularly follow the Mennonite party line on some things, both practically and theologically), CLP gets to me sometimes, in that I would consider them "staid" as opposed to "progressive." This comes through to me at times when I read their material, and I've been tempted to comment in this forum about problems that I (think I) see in their approach.
I've refrained, however, because it doesn't feel right.
Digressing for a moment...
It's this whole thing of Christianity and criticism, which I simply have not resolved in my mind. If we're talking personal issues, we can't publicly talk about and criticize others--that's gossip and unkind. Instead, we are to take up our issues personally or through the church.
The question in my mind is how these things are to be treated when there is a distance, when there is nothing personal involved. Does anything change? Is there any place for Christians to publicly hold other Christians accountable, when the views and/or lives of latter said Christians are in the public eye?
Ok, back to CLP.
I wanted to give them props for an article that they recently published in "Companions," one of their weekly Sunday School publications. It was about reaching out, and how that there's plenty of opportunities right around us, that there's more to the "being a light to the world" thing than foreign missions, and I think implicit in that is that there's more to being a light than just living and people seeing the "difference."
And they also talked about sipping a latte at the local bookstore--that predisposed me to think favorably toward them in this particular instance, even if I don't like coffee.
posted by Byran @ 1:23 AM
4 comments
4 Comments:
Probably the first time CLP has ever gotten "props."
Tom
I think there is definitely a time and a place to approach an issue when there is a "distance". If there is something that we sincerely have a problem with, is there even a place to sit back and say/do nothing? Not sure on that one, but often, the sit back and do nothing is our natural response. I find it interesting that this came up at this time, because there is this website that I have gigantic issues with. I finally read one thing too many and e-mailed the "editor". Some fascinating dialogue followed. Through that period of correspondence, I gained a different perspective of the individual's "work", as well as a new respect for him. Not that we see eye-to-eye or agree, and neither of us changed where we stand on the issue, but I saw the other side of the coin.
I am beginning to think it is completely unfair to make bombastic assumptions of one's work when I have absolutely no idea what the driving force is behind what they do. I may not change my mind when I do know, but I think it does us good to see what their motives are for doing what they do.
Ag
That's one thing I'm learning in life -- that if there's a "group" you tend to be critical about, just get to know someone closely assosiated with that "group," look for the good in them as a person, and you'll start feeling less critical of the "group" they're assosiated with.
Crystal
Well, it's nice to know they don't consider coffeshops evil.... Lauren
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