Recently I was urging a Christian that when we interact with Christians we should make sure they understand that we cannot see them as reborns unless they share our stance. Then I thought, "This is easy for me to say, having had no contact with such folk for years. Physician, heal thyself!"

So on Sunday I attended "Rylands Community Church" and chatted afterwards with several members. They all seemed ready to listen and discuss, even when they asked if I were "a Christian" and I replied (taking my own medicine, erring on the side of generosity but still maybe provocative) "I regard myself as such; you are the ones I am not sure about". I asked their leader (Steve) about their "Creed" and he pointed me to the FIEC "Basis of Faith".

On Monday (after a day and a half of feverish grappling) I emailed them a Critique of that Basis. It focussed especially on the Basis's utter lack of any positive vision about life in the world. (This lack suggests the heresy I call "Otherworldalism".)

On Friday (today), having had no response, I called the only relevant phone number I could find. It was someone at Beeston Free Church (of which RCC is an offshoot). She confirmed that I had used the correct email address, and offered to contact them for me.

Within an hour RCC replied to Monday's email. "Thanks, Vid, Interesting thoughts. Appreciate the time you have spent reading and having a think about how you respond to them. Hope it was helpful in clarifying for you where we are at as a church family. Look forward to bumping into you again. Every blessing, Steve".

(The rest of this entry has been edited. When first posted, it was harsher.)

Call me suspicious, but under its warmly embracing facade this strikes me as condescending, evasive, dismissive self-congratulation. Consider the phrase "clarifying for you"; he hopes to teach me, but simply ignores my clearly-stated desire for dialogue with them, thus not really responding to my message at all, instead giving me a standard schpiel (like a politician). The determination not to engage seems clear.

I will make another effort to engage, but these "Evangelicals" (or whatever you call them) seem not to have changed since I was among them in the 1970's. They seem to be as much God's foes as if they were atheists; maybe more, for they could be called traitors, claiming allegience to Christ but really being his foes. If I am right, to be with me is to be against them and all their ilk. (And yes, the next group may be different. But I doubt it.)