Ridgell's Originals

It is one of those things you hear when someone is complaining about something at church.  Something is being started, or stopped, that they do not like.  Or something is not being started, or stopped, that they do like.  Most of the time these people are not even present.  But someone brings up their name and their concern.  And in the middle of the discussion, someone will say, "... but don't forget that they are really good people."  I have never understood why that is relevant to the discussion.

Here is the only reason I think that the "good people" statement should ever be used:  to remind all of us that faithful, active people can have different -- and very strong -- opinions about issues.  

And here are the reasons I cringe when this statement is made in the midst of making decisions...

How good (or active, or "faithful") someone is should not have any bearing on our church decisions.  I know lots of good people with horrible theology.  And I know lots of bad people with sound theology.  They just don't practice it.

As soon as someone says "but don't forget that these are good people," it is hard not to assume that anyone holding a different view may not be a good person.  After all, who opposes a good person?

Which of course leads to an assertion that there are good people on the other side of the discussion.  So what now?  Are we supposed to use some cosmic scale of goodness to determine what decision to make?  Do we go by the number of "good" people on each side?  Or do we give extra value to the really good?

Asserting that someone is a good person can quickly lead to a "that's not really true" moment if not careful.  Then the whole discussion is in danger of doing way more harm to the church than any perceived benefit.

And finally, if you really want to talk about good people, start by talking about the good God.  That will end the discussion pretty quickly.  Just ask the rich young ruler.

So maybe decisions on difficult matters should be handled without discussions of individual supporters or opponents of the question under consideration.

Easier said than done, I know.  But let's refrain from trying to sway the discussion by advocating the goodness of people on one side or the other.

After all, God is the only good one in the room.