By Kayla
Spending four years here at Whitworth, I have witnesses a lot of confrontation regarding spiritual matters. Whether it be a discussion of salvation, the creation story or homosexuality, it’s hard for me to ignore the aggressive attitudes that many students take on. I also happen to be a biology major, which has a tendency to prompt conflict in Christian conversation.
When I think about the arguments that some students choose to partake in, I am reminded 
of Jesus’ call to us found in the book of Matthew. When asked what the greatest commandment of the law is, Jesus replies ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. ’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
While I do think that discussion is an important part in our walk with Christ, it can also become a cancer to our relationships. When it crosses the line from constructive to hurtful, I think its best for us to remember what is most important. When it comes right down to it, I think we all could stand to focus a little less on the miniscule differences of opinion present among our brothers and sisters in Christ and a little more on the most basic of calls: to love God and to love our neighbors. After all, what value do the little things have if we can’t first and foremost show love to God and to one another?
Kayla, I appreciate the points that both you and Holly have made. It’s really difficult. I think one thing that’s also hard for me is to be open to the fact that no matter how right I think I am, I could be wrong. How do we live in the midst of these tensions like Holly was saying, but also have humility that we could be wrong about some things? -jd
Kayla,
I think that you are right! I also think that difficult conversations are extremely important for our faith. I have been thinking a lot about what we talked about in class regarding speaking truth and being afraid to hurt someone’s feelings or disagreeing with someone. It is another one of those tensions we have been talking about; we have to love others and put out relationships first but also take time to speak truth and have hard conversations when people aren’t living out the gospel or are confused about Christ. My question is how can we be salt and light in the dark and not become a part of the world. It is so difficult to live in the middle of that tension.