February 27, 2006 - Controversialists or Revolutionary Traditionalists? Which Century Are You In?

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Controversialists or Revolutionary Traditionalists? Which Century Are You In?

By Kent d Curry
February 27, 2006

90&9 has always been about an ongoing conversation. That’s why it was created—to discuss the difficult, but realistic possibility of living a mostly triumphant life for God. We’re not a doctrinal zine. We’re not a message board set up to dissect standards. We’re a weekly zine covering daily Christian living issues, hopefully about living that life in the most interesting way possible, breaking the expected stereotypes just by living to our utmost for Him.

If you just read one week, you might believe us the looniest Apostolics capable of writing, another week you might find us overbearingly legalist, still another taking a stand with the barest of scriptures, but the strongest of convictions.

If you read many weeks you’ll find a more comprehensive picture of Christians determined to live triumphantly for God in the 21^st Century. We refuse to live in the 1980s or 1990s—and you’d be surprised how many still crave that world, hungering to hold onto the security of a life without changes. You don’t have to like everything happening in 2006, yet you must admit you’re living in it before you can change it for the kingdom.

Controversial or Realistic?
ninetyandnine.com feels like it’s more important to discuss issues on their merits, under the guidance of scripture, than it is to declare an absolute position on non-doctrinal matters. It’s also a mistake to transpose discussion for divisiveness. They aren’t synonymous, even if certain topics make us uncomfortable. (As the doctrinal issues surrounding Gentiles did the apostles in Acts 15.)

Sometimes we’re accused of intentionally courting controversy. Interestingly, most of these supposedly controversial issues we publish are almost all a reflection of the changing culturescape of the 21^st Century (to name a few: Bible school vs. University; Christian music vs. Secular; uncomfortable questions like: Is Hollywood Sodom or Ninevah? Why are so few Apostolics hosting web ministries? Where are the successful Apostolic careerists?). Sometimes that reflection is unusual and mold-breaking compared to previous mindsets, but that doesn’t mean it’s neither scriptural nor effective.

Most of these issues are reframing models of thinking that may have worked even 10 years ago, yet are noticeably deflating today. It’s important to discuss them to stay fresh, to better understand this exciting, transitional period of history we’re living in that is radically rewriting so many rules of life today; for starters: 9/11 and the war in Iraq reshaping Western society’s interaction with the Muslim world; religious issues moving to the forefront of Western culture; unpaid bloggers leveling multi-billion dollar CBS and their primary spokesman; the sale and distribution of music irrevocably e-changing as CD sales shrivel.

One-sided Agendas
That’s why your submissions are essential. This zine isn’t a direct reflection of anyone on staff; think about it, we publish contrary positions on just about any non-doctrinal topic. The positions we agree with receive the same line-editing that the positions we don’t agree with do. Articles on both sides of issues are sent back to the writers for stronger reasoning. It’s about intelligent argument, not the meandering opinions you find on so many message boards.

The purpose of a challenging article is not to pick up another 2,000 one-time readers, but to force scriptural rethinking, to push someone who disagrees to articulate themselves via a rebuttal or even more original thought. (Informed discussion is the first step toward action.) Yet, if you don’t write those thoughts, we can’t publish them. Then it can look one-sided, like we’re pushing an agenda when in reality only one side was willing to write a piece on that issue.

That’s why the Letter’s Page is lightly edited (unless you exceed the word count, are obviously pushing hot buttons, or defaming others, as we have no interest in publicizing your personal crusades), as we covet solid discussion. (Who doesn’t?) There’s never enough when it comes to living for the Lord creatively. We’re thrilled to be able to host such a site, because that’s why it was created. We hope you’re just as thrilled to involve yourself now and again, be it via articles, letters, the Big Question, or comments on blog postings.

Contributing to the Kingdom
We’re always open to new ideas and new talent. A web zine can’t afford stagnation or it becomes an overnight has-been. We’re always looking for committed staffers who’d like to edit articles with us or handle the technical details. We’re always looking to interview Apostolics in interesting careers or ministries. We need volunteers for the Month in the Life blog. Frankly, we can’t exist without you.

It is the give-and-take of debate that creates our growing readership, which still excites and intrigues us after six years of editing over 1,500 articles. No matter how the MSM* might paint Apostolics, from our vantage point this movement sparkles with a thriving purity. That’s why we’re so optimistic about the near future.

In his book on the 19^th Century Christian writer G. K. Chesterton, Thomas C. Peters said, “Chesterton put himself in a position very familiar to the Christian believer—that is, being a revolutionary advocate of a traditional cause.” We feel the same. We’re not controversialists, we’re revolutionary traditionalists. If you haven’t already, why don’t you join us every week so that we can make a difference in our world together?

ninetyandnine.com

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Kent d Curry is an executive editor of ninetyandnine.com.

* Mainstream Media