Other "Thinking Drafts" and writing by Keith Drury -- http://www.indwes.edu/tuesday .

Unintended Consequences

The permanent contribution of a thing -- movement, event, or meeting -- is seldom the intended effect, but an unintended one. That is, the announced purpose of a thing is seldom its ultimate contribution to history.

For example, take the reformation. Is the eventual effect of Luther's door-posting anywhere near his original intention? Or, how about Wesley? Finny and all of American revivalism? Or, more recently, what would you say was the eventual effect of the Moral Majority movement in the church? Or the pro-life movement? Were they the primary intended effects? The Law of Unintended Consequences says no. This law argues that the longest-lasting effect of a thing is usually the unintended consequence, not the announced or intended effect.

Sure, like all laws it may not always hold true, but a quick glance at church history seems to bear this one out. Thus, if this law is usually right, a wise and thoughtful person should ask the Unintended-Consequences Question during a thing, not just afterward.

So, I'm asking. What are the Unintended Consequences of the PromiseKeepers movement?
 

So what do you think?

To contribute to the thinking on this issue e-mail your response to Tuesday@indwes.edu