In disagreements, humans have a nasty tendency to vilify those with whom we disagree. Some we label heretics, others we call ignorant. There are genuine heretics out there, as well as genuine ignorant people, but I think they are not quite as common as our rhetoric might indicate.

Dr. Fisher Humphreys was one of my favorite professors at Beeson Divinity School. We also completed our stay at Beeson at the same time – he through retirement, me through graduation. Dr. Humphreys and I disagree with each other on a number of issues, but from him I learned quite a bit about how to be gracious to those who think differently than I while not compromising the things I disagree.

On Dr. Humphreys retirement a book of theological essays was put together in his honor. The introduction of the book is a brief biographical look at Dr. Humphreys written by Dr. Timothy George, dean of Beeson. In the sketch Dr. George includes a quote from Dr. Humphreys about a man named Leonard Hodgson. The quote touches on this issue of how we treat those with whom we disagree. Following the quote is a brief summary by Dr. George.

[Hodgson] pointed out that we human beings have a tendency to regard those who disagree with us in one of two ways. We assume that, if we have deep convictions and explain them clearly and a person still does not accept them, then that person is either unable to understand the truth or else unwilling to accept the truth. In other words, those who disagree with us are either ignorant or evil. Naturally, this entitles us to respond to them by either dismissing them as stupid or attacking them as willful betrayers of the truth. Hodgson insisted, however, that very intelligent, very honest people, sincerely disagree about things. He said that it is a part of growing up that we come to recognize that those who disagree with us may be as intelligent and as honest as we are trying to be.

For neither Hodgson nor Humphreys is such an analysis a pretext for relativism or lack of conviction, but it is a summons to civility, humility, and the kind of forbearance and gentleness the New Testament identifies with the fruit of the Holy Spirit.