Message from CCT Executive Director

During the last few weeks, I have been reading a little book by Thomas Merton titled, "New Seeds of Contemplation." The book has surprised me. The topic of contemplation is present through the book, but what surprised me are the profound, but practical theological insights it contains. These insights that are not hidden in complex theological jargon, but wrapped in profound simplicity. 

Let me share a few lines that I read a couple of days ago. This comes from a chapter titled, "The Moral Theology of the Devil."

"...in the devil's theology the important thing is to be absolutely right and to prove that everybody else is absolutely wrong. This does not exactly make for peace and unity among men, because it means that everyone wants to be absolutely right himself or to attach himself to another who is absolutely right. And in order to prove their rightness, they have to punish and eliminate those who are wrong."

His reasoning forces the question, "As a Christian leader, whom do I choose to relate too?" Forgive me for my bluntness, but the answer for most of us is that we relate to those who support, or agree with, our theological or political positions. This then determines our associations and relationships. Merton's answer to this kind of reasoning or behavior is: "This does not exactly make for peace and unity among men."

This is precisely what the Holy Spirit is doing in Christian Churches Together. The Spirit is bringing together those who "are right". The truth is that we can give praise to God because those who so far have made the commitment to be part of CCT are willing to challenge the norms. They are going against the natural tendency described by Merton (I am paraphrasing Merton here), "to attach themselves to others who are absolutely right." In their willingness to break the norm, they risk the criticism of their peers. CCT leaders are submitting their natural tendency to associate with those who look like them to the transforming will of the Holy Spirit.

Does God call us "to punish and eliminate those who are wrong"? Does God call us "to ignore or sideline those who we consider ignorant or even ill intentioned"?

In the gospels, but particularly in the life of Jesus, we find the answer to the previous questions. It is not a sin to associate ourselves with those who are or look like us. I do believe it is a sin to be indifferent to those who are, or think, different. This is countercultural, but it is at the heart of the gospel message of reconciliation.

As American Christians, we have individual and corporate disagreements on what does it means to be a Christian today and how to shape a common future. We can choose to work towards that future by creating competing realities and institutions. We can also choose to go against the cultural norm and seek a future together. To find a common future we must set aside what divide us. By doing so, we open the door to the One that unites us and to God's future.

The cultural challenges we face call for Christian leaders who are willing to take risks for the sake and integrity of the gospel. We need leaders who will take the risk of "reaching across the aisle" for the sake of a brighter future for the coming generations. The winds of the Spirit will take us where the Spirit wills. This countercultural logic undergirds what we are attempting to do in Christian Churches Together.

Rev. Carlos L. Malavé