As we have explained, near to the heart of what we wish to communicate about the whole idea of spiritual guidance is the way we wish to offer it to our colleagues. Because we believe that long-term engagement with the people and ideas of the university is important we want to encourage a relational and conversational style.
Anti-Abortion Rally
Denver, Colorado 2004
Photo Credit: Gary Rhodes
www.garyrhodesphotography.com
Further we wish to do our homework with respect to taking the time to understand the people and ideas that form the currency of communication in academe. But how we use
that information is very important.
Knowledge is power and power can be used in a benign or malignant way. We wish to use it in a way that honors God and respects the dignity and freedom of people to make their own choices. Therefore as people share their story...in some cases the intimate details of their soul...we want to be careful to 1) keep those things shared confidential, 2) scrupulously avoid using that information to “push” a person against their will to do something we might think or feel they should do; we follow this even when we believe it is in their own best interests to do so and 3) whenever we are asked for or offer advice we use the information we have to help clarify key issues as God gives us light and to suggest options (including the option of becoming a follower of Christ), about whom a person can make their own choice(s). In short, from a persuasive standpoint we respect the integrity of the individual to make choices realizing our main responsibility is to make the issues of the gospel clear and what needs to be done about that and then leave the results (their response) to God.
We think this way of being and providing spiritual guidance to non-believers is non-manipulative in intention and practice and within the bounds of legitimate persuasive activities and we commend the spirit of that to you.