Monday Morning Insights

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    The Mars Hill vs. Willow Creek Staff Soccer Game:  Could It Ever Happen?

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    The article continues:

    Church of Norway spokesman Olav Fykse Tveit said the imams refused to play against a mixed-gender team of priests because it would have gone against their beliefs in avoiding close physical contact with strange women.

    The church decided to drop its female players and the priests’ team captain walked out in protest.

    Hours before the game was to end the daylong “Shoulder to Shoulder” conference in Oslo, the church released a statement saying it had called off the match because it was sending the wrong signal.

    “Because we thought it would be a nice conclusion of the conference we didn’t want to call it off, so we decided to stage an all-mens team game instead,” Tveit said. “We realize now that it will be wrong to have a priest team without women.”

    Back to the Willow Creek vs. Mars Hill match up:

    OK… So, would Nancy Beach be the spoiler?

    (Things like this keep me up at night!)

    FOR DISCUSSION: What do you think?  Could the game ever happen, and who would win?

    I'm sorry... not to bring up old news; but this story made me wonder: What if Mark Driscoll and Bill Hybels were soccer coaches and their staff teams were scheduled to play each other? In reality, could such a game even take place? This from Sweden: A soccer game between Muslim imams and Christian priests at the end of a conference to promote interfaith dialogue was canceled Saturday because the teams could not agree on whether women priests should take part. Hmmm...

    Comments

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    1. Mark Broadbent on Mon, May 07, 2007

      Hey Todd,


      Thanks for the thought provoking topic.


      Was going to email you anyway with an idea, and this post just prompted me to do something bout it.


      I was wondering what everyone’s feelings were on the whole HYBELS vs DRISCOLL thing? It seems to me that whether or not either Hybels or Driscoll or both were in the wrong, we are all in the wrong for gossipping about them.


      I’m not saying that we intentionally did this. But it seems to me that gossip is a sin that has just become part of the norm for most Christians (including myself). I am sure that I could just about gossip from the pulpit and no one would even care (or notice).


      The same is true in blogging world. I think blogs are fantastic. But I really believe that much of what has been said about HYBELS and DRISCOLL over many blogs has in fact been gossip, and therefore sinful.


      So… I am wondering- crazyi idea. What would happen if the leading Christians Bloggers (such as yourself) were to come up with a few blogging code of ethics. Not anything legalistic, but just something to guide bloggers when they feel the need to get something off their chest.


      I have no idea what these would look like. And I am not imagining anything long, but just something to prevent gossip and slander, and something to prevent the spread of inaccurate information (which seems to me to be what has happened on both sides of the HYBELS/DRISCOLL thing).


      Anyway - I know its probably a crazy thought, and I am not the one to get it off the ground. But Todd someone like you, with your influence, could really make a difference here.


      Can you imagine what would happen if Christians were known for loving one another in blog world!!! It might just be what God is caling us to do? And it might just be what others are looking for?

    2. Todd Rhoades on Mon, May 07, 2007

      Thanks for the input, Mark… I do understand where you’re coming from.  We did, at one time, post a list of blog etiquette items for here at MMI; but there were more for the commenters, not the writers (mainly me.)


      Here are a couple of thoughts on this issue from my view:


      1.  The blog world is hard to police.  Even if there were a ‘code of ethics’, it would be completely voluntary.  For the most part, I think most all of the bloggers I follow do conduct themselves well.


      2.  On this issue of Hybels and Driscoll… I think there is actually good coming out of this debate.  I think it does help people see the issues the church is confronting (and women in ministry is definitely one of the biggies, still.)


      3.  Also, Hybels responded to Driscoll publically in front of 1800 people (without Driscoll being present).  I was there in the room.  It was a public comment said in a room full of bloggers who are already blogging on the conference.  It’s gonna be reported.


      4.  Driscoll blogged on this topic; adding fuel to the fire, and almost guaranteeing the fact that this would become a full blogstorm.


      So, I think this is really an inevitable conversation, being played out publically, almost a the request of the two who started it (Hybels and Driscoll). 


      BTW, I haven’t heard any clarifications from either of these men.  I’m sure they’re both wishing it would just go away.  And it will, over time.


      Todd

    3. Mark Broadbent on Mon, May 07, 2007

      Thanks Todd for your insights. Very wise.


      Mark

    4. carole on Mon, May 07, 2007

      I just posted about the Hybel Driscoll thing over at my blog;


      thewardrobeandthewhitetree.blogspot.com


      Not sure you will like it but it’s just my opinion..

    5. Matthew A. on Thu, February 07, 2008

      Pretty ridiculous that the all mens game had to be played because of their beliefs…we’re in 2008, but then again a mixed team seems very weird to me..I played soccer all my life but once I got to high school it was guys vs guys, and women vs women…not sure I would protest a game over it though.

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