“Then someone called from the crowd, ‘Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.’ Jesus replied, ‘Friend, who made Me a judge over you to decide such things as that?’ Then He said, ‘Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.’” (Luke 12:13-15 NLT)
Why would I seek to convince two young Mormon Elders to forsake their faith and turn to mine? For the same reason I would seek to persuade an atheist to turn from their unbelief to faith in Jesus – they’re both lost and destined for an eternity separated from the only One who can equip them for heaven.
The goal of every relationship I have is to exhibit Christ’s loving character in a way as to encourage someone who knows Him or create a desire to know Him in anyone who doesn’t. I can overlook a lot of things about which I disagree with someone if I can have an opportunity to influence them positively for the Lord.
In my mind it’s pointless to try to convince another believer in Jesus to believe exactly like I do. If they know Him and the fruit of their life bears witness to that, we can walk in harmony even if we disagree on other subjects related to Christianity. As in marriage, the Lord doesn’t call us to unanimity, but to harmony and cooperation with one another.
The truth is, there’s a lot you and I may not know, but as brothers and sisters, we do know Jesus. The Lord and I communicate nearly every moment. I take my cues from Him, so, if He lets me know I need to pray for or speak with someone about Him, I’m all over it. They may seem like a perfect example of a believer, but whatever He tells me to do, including challenging them in their “faith,” that’s what I’ll do. If I get it wrong, I confess it, seek God’s and their forgiveness, and move on.
While we should be constantly learning, it takes a lifetime to mature, and we’ll not know everything until we get to the other side. We all have the capacity to sin as long as we’re in this body, so when we sin, we seek forgiveness, and we should have people in our lives who will hold us accountable if we continue to walk in habitual sin. There are some gray areas where there’s some “wiggle room” for us to disagree, but it should never drive us apart.
Personalities can sometimes prevent agreement, so, in some cases, it’s best to part ways in disagreement as friends, rather than maintain a determination that one or the other must yield to the other person’s view.
In all situations we must extend grace by answering this question: “What would Jesus do?” “How would He handle this situation or circumstance?” whether it’s an individual issue or something that must be resolved between parties. As Nikola Tesla said in yesterday’s post: “We are all one. Only egos, beliefs, and fears separate us.”
“Egos, beliefs, and fears” can be deal-breakers for good or evil, depending on the subject of our disagreement. The point, in my mind, is how will the solution of this disagreement exalt or demean Jesus in our lives and/or in the lives of those who are participants and/or observers of this situation or circumstance? Will it move us closer to or push us further from one another and/or Jesus? Has grace been given and received?
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 