A lot of surprising things happened in response to the publication of The No Asshole Rule. I am putting together a post or two about some of the highlights and biggest lessons that I learned this year. But perhaps nothing surprised me, or forced me to open my mind more, than experimental psychologist Richard Beck’s use of The No Asshole Rule in a bible studies class in Texas, which he wrote about on his blog Experimental Theology. Here is Richard’s retrospective on this experience, which is part of his post on the Best of 2007. I find his comment wonderful and deeply constructive in many ways, and very much in the Christmas spirit:
#7
My Bible Class about Bob Sutton’s Book
No retrospective on 2007 would be complete without facing up to my Most
Controversial Post of the Year. I did a bible class at my church on Dr.
Sutton’s book and then followed that post up with a series. That post was
picked up on by Dr. Sutton (initially
here on his personal blog and then later in The Huffington Post
where he mentions his changing attitudes about Christians in two features found here and here.
Which pleases me in that, if you look at his remarks, it seems I helped
dismantle some stereotypes about Christians and Christian intellectuals.
These gains aside however, because I didn’t euphemize and took Dr. Sutton’s
language as-is (following the lead, as a scholar would, of the Harvard
Business Review who first published Dr. Sutton’s idea), some conservative
readers have been offended and have written my employer about my Christian
commitment. The disappointing part for me is that none of these complaints have
been taken directly to me per Jesus’ instructions in the Sermon on the Mount.
Which means that the complaints are not Christian, honest, and truth-seeking in
intent. They are, rather, attempts to use my post as a political tool against
my university. Which is sad. To those offended by this blog, please e-mail me
directly for conversation. Also note that my discussion of Dr. Sutton’s book
had nothing to do with my university as it was a bible class for my church,
populated with adults and not college students. Thus, if you have any spiritual
concerns with me on this topic please contact my spiritual overseers, the
elders of the Highland Church of
Christ. They are the ones accountable for both my spiritual journey as well
as any teaching conducted under their oversight.
As a final thought on this subject, a part of the reason (other than its clear
gospel message) I took up Dr. Sutton’s book was to explore what "Christian
language" can and should look like. What are the discernment issues
involved? How do we adjudicate? Is propriety and politeness the main concern?
But what if, as Dr. Sutton’s book shows, cultural mores are changing? Is this a
generational issue? If so, should language change to connect with the young
even if the older (and most established in faith) are offended? These are
challenging and important issues. How shall we speak to our world? Is the world
a homogenous crowd allowing only a single form of Christian discourse? Or is
the world heterogeneous, diverse, and ramified, requiring multiple languages
each unique given context and audience? In short, all readers here–offended or
not offended–should pitch in and discuss rather than gripe and
complain. There is work to be done for the Kingdom! Let’s find out how best to
do it and support each other in a process–being in but not of the world–that
necessarily creates different modes of missional living.
Richard, thank you so much for being so thoughtful and open-minded. I especially like your call for constructive discussion and argument — it reminds me of one on of my favorite sayings by fellow psychologist Karl Weick: Fight as if you are right, listen as if you are wrong!
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