
M V Tronson attained First Class Honours and a Theological Blue in Church History during his training, and since then has been recognised as one of Australia's most influential 25 evangelical ministers in 2005 in a poll taken by the Australian evangelical weekly newspaper 'New Life'.
"Those conversant with Protestant theological history recognise that the very 'freedom of thought' that Protestantism espouses, also carries with it a proclivity to disagreement and separation," M V Tronson noted.
He claims that it is nothing out of the ordinary to see Christian organisations or congregations split down the middle, with one group hiving off to form another congregation over one or more of any number of issues.
The traditional antagonism which normally mellows over time, has in M V Tronson's view, sadly moved in the 'direction' of maliciousness. He lists a sample number of such situations he has witnessed and documented in his observations which has highlighted this trend, and which has greatly disturbed him.
• Internet and Email maliciousness has become problematic;
• Wickipedia entries have been changed;
• Faith finance mission support network address lists have been taken and used inappropriately;
• Letters have been sent to Government agencies opposing Grand Funds to other Missions
• Letters and documents have falsely represented a Mission situation or personnel.
A vital question he asks, is 'why?' Why have antagonistic attitudes in some cases turned in a 'direction' toward malicious behaviour?
Although there might be any number of sociological and behavioural answers in the social sciences to this question, M V Tronson points to a theological issue, which in his view, is at the heart of the problem.
"In my view, many Australian evangelicals are confused with the boundaries between forgiveness and accountability. Unfortunately 'forgiveness' has erroneously been translated as 'tolerance', which is something the biblical injunction neither allows or condones," M V Tronson explained.
If any association of people is to work together as a functioning body, without falling into chaos, there needs to be a 'priory to accountability'.
"The Biblical announcements follows this same protocol, from God's acts of mercy in 'Genesis' right the way through the Bible to the Great Judgment Seat in 'The Revelation'," M V Tronson explained.
The rule of thumb is that forgiveness 'follows' accountability. The theology of the Cross shouts this from the roof tops.
'Tolerance' as a philosophical idea is sweeping away true and just 'accountability' to the detriment of evangelical attitudes on 'ministry' and to the wider society which, he says, has been on a similar disturbing journey.