Saturday, April 18, 2009

The importance of being wrong!

One of the sermons at our church last year had quite an impact on our family. In many social, family, and professional contexts "being right" and winning arguments is incredibly important to most people. Admitting we are wrong just is not an option. Yet the Gospel goes against this. After all, repentance is admitting we are wrong and radically changing course. But the Gospel even goes further. Even when we may be sure we are right, we should not necessarily push points to the limit, especially when it is detrimental to relationships. The verse we were really challenged by is 1 Corinthians 6:7,
The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged?
As an aside it is interesting that some of the most influential intellectuals of the twentieth century have been willing to change their minds and reject positions that they previously held. Several examples that come to mind are Karl Barth, Anthony Flew, and Hilary Putnam.

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