Karl Barth Chides In-Bred Theology

“Strange as it may seem, it is still true, that those who fail to understand other churches than their own are not the people who care intensely about theology, but the theological dilettantes, eclectics, and historians of all sorts; while those very men who have found themselves forced to confront a clear, thoroughgoing, logical sic et non find themselves allied to each other inspite of all contradictions, by an underlying fellowship and understanding, even in the cause which they handle so differently and approach from such painfully different angles. But the cause, it may be, is nothing less than Jesus Christ and the unity of the Church.”—Karl Barth

I wanted to post this quote because I think many of us in the church fit the bill here in terms of being closed off to other segments of the church.

For example:
There are some, such as the Reformed theological groups, who simply have a rigid set of theological beliefs; a system if we might call it that, and they are just not interested in hearing what anyone else might have to offer.

There are others, such as some of those within the emergent church, who are willing and open to ask and dialogue about questions, but who are also unwilling to entertain certain types of criticisms or objections, and consequently, they often marginalize those who offer objections.

But in the end, the result is the same; we have various groups within the church who simply talk past each other- they would rather have in-bred, theological and philosophical pat-on-the-back sessions in which they sit around and congratulate each other about how right they are, and how ignorant and careless the other group is.

Now, the two examples I offered above are just that- simply examples, which also means that as generalizations, there are exceptions to these caracatures. At the same, let this qualification not weaken the point; examine yourselves, and ask yourself if you have a responsibility to the wider body of Christ.