by Mike Edwards
The political divide in our nation is obvious, but shouldn’t people who claim to follow Jesus’ teachings get along? Yes, plenty of people are leaving the institutional church but they aren’t leaving God. It is hard to make a big impact in the world alone. A movement though can! Why isn’t a Following who claims the importance of loving others as themselves having more of an impact on our culture?
It is human nature to not always get along.
The wife and I got along pretty well when dating, but that didn’t exactly prepare me for the first years of marriage. Love doesn’t make go away having to share bathrooms, finances, closets, in-laws, etc. I didn’t learn soon enough that love requires learning to disagree well so to live happily incompatible. You got to learn some skills as differences arise. But Christian divisions run deeper than nature.
One’s belief if the Bible is inspired by God may be the greatest divider among Christians.
Some believe God inspired all of the Bible thus is God’s final word on guidance; others believe the Spirit may guide us toward even a higher view of God than the writers always had. One can still be a God-follower though their view of the Bible is different than yours. Besides, literature requires interpretation whether you believe God inspired all of the Bible or not. More churches are forming than uniting because of differences in interpretations and no one is admitting they may be wrong. Christian opinions can stand side by side as we continually evaluate the most loving way.
Can we get along despite a helluva lot of differences?
It has been suggested despite the challenges of translation and interpretation the central message of the Bible is clear to all. I respectfully disagree. One’s belief about Hell supposedly impacts everyone born into this world. Views on women’s roles impacts half the population. Gay differences impact millions and millions of people. Can I get along with one who is convinced God condemns gays for attractions they can’t control? I may never know because we are quick to demonize one another when we don’t share the same convictions.
What first steps can we take to show true love?
We each have to decide what is the first big step we can take in our relationships. As my beliefs were forming and changing over the decades, I wasn’t always respectful in sharing my passions. If I had it all to do over, I would have sought to understand first before being understood. This is the best way for relationships to not end up demonizing one another. Standing side by side may in time allow one to be persuaded for the right reasons. Christians acting loving toward one another could change the world!
Mike, Thanks for sharing your perspective. I think you’ve concisely captured the problem of Christian infighting and its primary cause. My perception is identical to yours in that Christians’ deification of the Bible is the biggest cause of dissension among us. Jesus said that the world would recognize that we are His disciples by our love for each other. We ALL disagree with each other on some issue or another. That will never change, because our experiences are different, so we must come to grips with that fact. We have to get to a point where our love for each other supersedes our disagreement. That will bring us to a point where we are able to learn from each other, and we will be exemplifying the kingdom of God as Jesus desired. Good thoughts!
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Thanks Norm. I think you recently wrote on the same issue on your blog: https://thewildfrontier.wordpress.com/
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No, I don’t wish to des cuss this further. I am not even judging you for disagreeing. We have to walk in the knowledge that we understand to be the truth. We are all responsible for our own walk before God. I judge myself and you judge yourself according to what Holy Spirit reveals to be true. What others think doesn’t really matter. 1 Cor 13:12 states, For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. For this reason I am not afraid to question my understanding pertaining the word at any given time. Like the Bereans I reserve the right to study a topic out to see if it is so. Then I base my opinion on what I find to be true. This is what I have stated in my answers to your comment.
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We have to learn to tolerate but never to compromise as the Lord demonstrated this to us. ” your sins are forgiven, go and sin no more.”
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True Gary. Thanks for commenting. I think we just have to be careful what we claim as Truth – though tolerant. Many who love God, including biblical scholars who respect Scriptures, don’t agree on many important matters such as Hell, women roles, and gays.
Sorry Gary. I accidently deleted your follow-up comment which said: “The bible is very clear on all three topics that you have mentioned. What the so called bible scholars reason out and add or take away to what is stated is irrelevant.” Gary, we simply will have to disagree. If you wish to discuss further you can find my email on my personal blog at : https://what-god-may-really-be-like.com/
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