As Christians we have differences with others: differences with brothers and sisters in the faith, even differences with political figures and policies. How do we handle these differences?
God is love, and we are to be loving (1 John 4:7-8). Whatever our response to those with whom we disagree, it must be rooted in our love for our God and the love for others He commands us to display.
Let’s look at a simple disagreement with a Christian brother or sister that has resulted in bitterness. Matt. 5:23-24 says our relationship with our fellow Christians effects our relationship with our God. We should first settle the issue with our brother/sister before approaching God’s altar:
23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Our job is to show the grace of God, to forgive and ask forgiveness. Otherwise, bitterness will rise both in us and the person with whom we have the difference:
15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled, (Heb. 12:15)
If we have a difference with a brother that involves serious sin in their life or a difference in a major doctrine of the church, we have clear instructions. Once we follow these steps, there is nothing more to be said. It is then a closed matter.
Matt 18:15-17 says this: 15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector”.
Now, what do we do with political differences? During the 60s a.d. when most of the New Testament was written, Rome was very hostile to the Christians. Emperor Nero made sport of them feeding them to lions, even covering them with pitch, impaling them on poles, then setting them aflame to light his garden. What was the response of the early church?
Paul says this in Titus 3:1-2 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.
Wow! “To speak evil of no one.” That includes politicians. For some of us that’s a tall order even today.
The first Christian apologists wrote open letters to the Roman authorities. They weren’t angry letters. They were letters explaining how Christians were good citizens paying their taxes, working hard, and not disruptive. They asked the Romans to end their persecution. Is that how Christians act today?
Why is this important?
As I’ve said before, God has two major goals: To make heaven as full as possible and hell as empty as possible. As Christians those are our goals too.
The commands of God dictate our behavior in such a way that we can influence the lost to come to Christ. Angry Christians attract no one. Christ told us His kingdom is not of this world, but we act as though it is.
Ephesians 2:19 tells us we’re citizens of the kingdom of God. But, do we act like it?
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.
If our job is to share Christ, I wonder how much of what we are involved in is little more than distraction.
In 250 a.d. two things happened: The Great Persecution began slaughtering Christians throughout the Roman Empire, and there was a severe plague in Rome. 5,000 Romans died each day, so the Romans who could, left the city. The Christians stayed to nurse the sick. Many Christians died. Many non-believers were saved through the love that was shown by the very people they were persecuting. The Roman common people’s view of Christians changed. They became sympathetic. Christians had sacrificed themselves for lost Romans.
About 70 years later a Roman Centurion entered a church and demanded all its holy documents. The pastor refused. The Centurion returned to his unit and told his commander. Rather than killing the pastor, the commander said to ask for just one document. The pastor still refused, and the Romans left him alone. Yes, the pastor took a stand but only after he was challenged. God’s love changes lives. The anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God (James 1:20)
I have only come to this realization recently and as a result am reassessing my Christian walk. I now believe it is hearts that need changing as much if not more than minds. God is interested in the souls of the lost. Much of what we busy ourselves in is fruitless distraction. What we do, we must do for God and do as imitators of Christ.
Believers Armed and Dangerous 