Journal

Critical Participation

Posted on October 23rd, 2005, in the evening

These comments may be slightly abstract out of the context of a conversation I just had, but I've been reflecting on how hard a thing it is to be a whole-hearted participant in something of which you are also critical. I'm specifically thinking about church meetings.

There are two easy options: you can stand on the outside and critcise, which is easy; or you stand uncritically on the inside, which is also easy. But I don't want to do either.

Truth be told, I don't think I could actually do either anymore. I'm ruined for standing outside and just criticising because church meetings have so consistently provided the context for milestones in the process of Christ changing my life. I'm also ruined for standing uncritically inside for all kinds of reasons and not least because I find myself increasingly responsible for the content and structure of various church meetings.

So here I am in between: a whole-hearted participant in these meetings, but always critically reflective about what's going on. It's a bit like using language even though you're aware of its structure and limitations.

This is not the easiest way. A simplistic attitude always requires less effort. But I really think it's a better thing to walk the middle of the camber. This kind of whole-hearted, critical participation is ...well, critical.