# Practice of the Better
“New structures that can make the emerging church possible cannot be in opposition to any existing church structures; they cannot be against anything but merely for Something. “The best criticism of the bad is the practice of the better” is one of our core principles at the Center for Action and Contemplation.
Don’t waste the next years of your life being against anybody, anything, any group, any supposed sin, or any institution. Just go ahead and do it better yourself. It’s so common sense when you hear it. As Mohandas Gandhi put it, “Be the change you hope to see in the world.” And in the church!”
– Richard Rohr, What is the Emerging Church
These words cut me down to an inch. My shadow is often luring me down the war path. I pray God opens my heart to those I so readily oppose. It’s so much easier to oppose than to enter into a “practice of the better.”
October 21st, 2009 at 1:10 pm
[...] is among those who argue that co-operation may be as fundamental in evolution as natural selection. Thoughts on the Emerging Church “New structures that can make the emerging church possible cannot be in opposition to any [...]
October 21st, 2009 at 5:16 pm
AMEN!
October 21st, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Rob Bell said it well when he taught on Acts 19 a couple years ago: the people living in Ephesus never criticized the followers of Artemis because they were confident that their story was the best story. That’s why even the elected officials (worshipers of Artemis) risked their jobs and lives to defend Paul when the riot went down.
I’ve seriously gotta stop making fun of Kirk Cameron…
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Well put.
Solid reflection.