Brothers, from a safe Caribbean distance, I've been very thankful to hear the reports of the recent SBC meeting.  It seems the place was awash in a spirit of "friendly cooperation."  The report of the death of the Arminian-Calvinist tension, I pray it's not premature, sounds like a very healthy thing.  I can't help but wonder if the discussion between Dr. Mohler and Dr. Patterson at the Greensboro convention in 2006 might have been a turning point.  Many were dismayed that the gloves didn't come off in that discussion, and some predicted the doom and ruin of the convention.  But it seems those two men were wiser than most in modeling how to engage and disagree as Christians giving honor to the other. 

Now to hear the reflections coming, frankly, from rather a rather cantankerous and easily disagreeing lot... well, that's just flat out hope-giving.  Perhaps we're learning to agree and disagree--even Southern Baptists.

And tonight, I listened to the discussion on ordaining women as deacons between our brothers Tim Keller and Ligon Duncan (HT: Ref21)  That certainly has the potential for being a divisive discussion.  But like Mohler and Patterson in 2006, Keller and Duncan demonstrated remarkable charity, joyful agreement, and gracious disagreement.  I pray it yields marvelous fruit throughout the PCA.

In fact, it seems that the Lord is graciously creating among His people wider, deeper, more joyful and energetic unity across denominations, ministry styles, generations, etc.  Witness the participation of pastors and churches in The Gospel Coalition and the cross-generational and largely young assembly of pastors at T4G. 

And one sweet aspect of all of this is that the deepening, widening unity does not come at the expense of truth.  Men like Lloyd-Jones and Spurgeon witnessed their generations flirtations with false unities and downgrades.  Those were hollow cries for unity--hollow because the bone and marrow of truth had been withdrawn.  But in God's kindness, the efforts at cooperation focus on the gospel and missions and build upon Scripture and protect inerrancy. 

What will be the effect of Christians learning to joyful agree and disagree and continue focused on the main thing?