DISAGREEMENT

I Was Just Thinking About – DISAGREEMENT.

There is a fanciful expression that states: “One can disagree without becoming disagreeable.” If only that was true in the ebb and flow of human discourse. Disagreement can too often cause people to become polarized – choosing up sides or reacting in ways that bring about division rather than resolve. To disagree has powerful implications: “difference of opinion; dissent; quarrel; dissension; argument.” There are too many instances when in church matters this has festered until it became divisive.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus stated the principle of human sensitivity in terms of matters that can and should be resolved. In Matthew 5:23-26 (MSG), Jesus states unequivocally: “This is how I want you to conduct yourself…If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God. Or say you’re out on the street and an old enemy accosts you. Don’t lose a minute. Make the first move; make things right with him…”

The Apostle Paul reminds the believers, Second Corinthians 13:11 (NKJV), “Be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” The NLT, “Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.” The AMP, “Rejoice! Be what you should be, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace, enjoy the spiritual well-being experienced by believers who walk closely with God; and the God of love and peace will be with you.”

This is the time of year when ecclesiastical courts meet to review the past year of accomplishment (or lack of the same) and to modify viewpoints on a range of topics (some more controversial than others). Many times, the discussions become antagonistic and there is the generation of more heat than light. One would think that a group where ordination vows are emphatic – “The Scriptures are the only infallible rule of faith and practice”  - that the group would coalesce around that and other foundation principles. However, that will not be the case. Those gathered will react, respond and vote on their opinions or biases rather than on the facts stated and the foundations embraced.

If Psalm 11:3-5 was the template by which the actions of an assembly were being viewed by God, what would His assessment and determination be? If we believed God said what He meant and meant what He said, would our discussions and actions be measured more by His standards and mandates rather than by our opinions and cultural trends? David wrote: “If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do? The Lord is in His holy temple. The Lord's throne  is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men. The Lord tests the righteous…” 

Even though this sounds idealistic, it also represents the infallible rule for faith and practice. Let’s pray that commissioners and delegates remember who they are serving and how He wants them to conduct themselves.

Prayerfully – consider these things with me.