I'm slowly reading through G.K. Chesterton's "Orthodoxy". I know there are a few Chesterton fans on here. I admit I have to re-read his statements constantly to follow his arguments. Thus I am following along with a study guide.

I found this point interesting: The problem in the modern world is not the lack of virtue, it is that the virtues still exist but without proper proportion and restriction. The virtue of love, for example, is exercised in such an unbridled fashion by some that they denounce the notion that anyone could act wrongly, because that would be mean spirited and, apparently, not a loving thing to do."

This issue plagues the church in my opinion. We think love is avoiding confrontation or disagreement. We are afraid to speak the truth to one another out of fear of offending them. However the church body exists to disciple one another which includes at times correction. Sometimes we need to have that awkward uncomfortable conversation to correct an issue. For instance I made a crass joke one Sunday morning at church. I didn't think the comment was inappropriate however I was respectfully approached by a friend. At first I was defensive in order to protect my pride but he was right. The moment was awkward, but I am better for it now.

Good post and love me some Chesterton.

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This issue plagues the church in my opinion. We think love is avoiding confrontation or disagreement. We are afraid to speak the truth to one another out of fear of offending them.

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I agree, and I'll add that we also have a tendency to speak truth without love. I hate to say there's a balance, because truth and love are not in conflict, but we seem to struggle w/ this "balance". All "truth" with no "love" is just as harmful as all "love" with no "truth".

I get why CS Lewis is popular since he wrote so much fiction, but Chesterton is the real intellectual of 20th century Christian writing. He was a bit daft on evolution but that's far more forgivable in his era than today.

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I agree, and I'll add that we also have a tendency to speak truth without love. I hate to say there's a balance, because truth and love are not in conflict, but we seem to struggle w/ this "balance". All "truth" with no "love" is just as harmful as all "love" with no "truth".

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I agree. But if we soften our approach in order to be "loving" then we may not be effective. There are times where we need to be direct and it won't be a pleasant experience for both involved. But it's better than the alternative of leaving it unaddressed.

I have a tendency to speak around the issue hoping the person will "get my drift" thus avoiding the difficult conversation.

Aggrad08 said:

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He was a bit daft on evolution but that's far more forgivable in his era than today.

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Eh, happens to the best, just ask Chuck Darwin and ol' Tom Huxley. Dourly inquiry I know, but what's the most favored race in the struggle for life? (.....asking for a friend that "hates science").