Necessary Conversations: An Introduction

I’m Ronald Toney and I have the wonderful privilege of being the pastor of the Lizzie Chapel Baptist Church in Macon GA.  I’ve pastored this wonderful church since 1993, and it has been for me and my family an authentic growth journey in our faith as we engage ourselves in the many private and public issues that effect our members and community.

Since graduating from Morehouse College in 1985 I have always felt a kind of calling to express myself through writing. But having the non-spiritual gift of procrastination I’ve allowed for the demands of pastoring, family, and community involvement to take the center place of importance. And that’s alright. Life happens.

But now I feel that the time is right to contribute my perspective on the social and religious matters of our day. As I survey the cultural and spiritual landscape of our world and country it appears that there is a severe truth deficit in the land.  We are in desperate need of truth-tellers. I know that may sound a bit naïve or ignorant on my part, or perhaps even the highest level of arrogance to presume that i and those who think like me are possessors of the truth.  But please know that I don’t consider myself a possessor of all truth.  The truth of the matter is that there are some things we will never know this side of heaven.

But if I’m anything at all, I am a seeker of truth and a possessor of love, with the latter being necessary for recognizing and understanding truth – truth being those absolute and necessary values and principles that define true meaning and purpose, and create a culturally healthy narrative in all places, at all times.  Truth anywhere is truth everywhere at anytime.

Truth informs us how things ought to be. This is the real challenge of truth. How things ought to be is held hostage to our protected subjectivities. And unless we realize and wrestle with our own personal biases and the cultural narratives that have defined our world views, we will never find our way to the promised land of truth.

But if we are honest with ourselves, as I trust you are, we can participate in necessary conversations, ergo, the purpose of this blog. I want to create a safe space where we can engage in those necessary conversations.  Necessary conversations that supplants ignorance with knowledge.  Necessary conversations that dispels fear and inspires hope. Necessary conversations that exposes hatred and leads the mind and the heart to love. Necessary conversations that are respectful, polite, intelligent and essential for truth-telling.

Now, as you know, I am a Christian – a believer in the life-teachings and saving work of Jesus Christ.  This is the lens through which my world view is formed. However, I am deeply concerned about the brand of Christianity that is more political than spiritual; whose dogma and doctrine isolates themselves from others; whose xenophobic ministries builds walls of separation; and who ministers from postures of authority instead of acceptance and grace. For many this is the face of Christianity in the world, but is not the brand that I’m associated with.

So there it is, Necessary Conversations.  I pray that this blog will inform, inspire and challenge you; that it will be thought-provoking and meaningful.  If you care to be contributor to the conversation, contact me and we will consider your request.

And always remember, “God’s Way is the Best Way.”