Always Right!

One of the most difficult things to do is get along with others, especially if those others think differently than you do. In the church it's just as difficult because we think differently about Christ, about theology, about faith. Coming from a variety of different religious backgrounds our church is like a great tapestry of theological perspective. We have persons very conservative and some at the other end of the spectrum. We have a great variance of political opinions among us. Our diversity is great and so is our conversation.

I like being right. I like the idea that my word trumps other's words. But I'm not always right. (just ask my wife!) Neither are my words always the last words. I have my own opinions, my own understanding of theology, my own version of right and wrong. Sometimes we just have to agree to disagree and as we tell our Disciple Bible Study groups before each year begins, this will bother us much more than it bothers God.

The truth is we are just trying to get a handle on God. And as we do so, we might see things differently. This was the case very early in the church, as I stated a couple of weeks ago, the diversity of that church was great, and so were their opinions. So just think about the diverse ideas that have arisen through 2000 years of Christian theology. The prayer of Jesus in the Garden on the night of his betrayal was a plea for us to become one like He and the Father are one. (John 17:22) It's a prayer not of like theology, but of like minds, that we are all focused on the one God and serving only Him. That leaves a whole lot of room for theological diversity in the realm of Christianity and even within one arm of the church.

What does that mean for us? That we should think more favorably about other Christian denominations? That we should allow for more theological debate within our own branch of Christendom? That we must not be so rigid in our understandings that we end up setting boundaries that keep people out instead of bringing people in? And the answer to all of these is a resounding, "Yes!"

"So let's agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other. Help others with encouraging words; don't drag them down by finding fault." (Romans 14:19-20, The Message)

Serving Christ by serving others like Christ is the key, even when those whom we serve don't believe like us, don't understand what we understand, even when they violently disagree. The point is, if we fail to act like little-Christs (the real definition of a Christian), then we are even more wrong than those around us.

"If the way you live is inconsistent with what you believe, then it's wrong." (Romans 14:23, The Message)

Our faith is proven not by what happens at judgment, but by what happens every day, in our actions towards Christ and towards others. My goal is to serve out of love, so that the genuineness of may faith is proven not only to me and Christ, but to those who see me. This is where I believe Christ wants us to be even more than being theologically correct, but being theologically consistent as we strive for Him!

Peace ><>
PC