“CAN’T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG?”

Relationships take work. Some people naturally gravitate toward one another because of common interests. However, sometimes, people are drawn to someone that is completely different than themselves. Either way, once the relationship is established, it takes work to maintain it. If it is not maintained, it will erode or just eventually fade away. Because we are all different, and have different personalities and character traits, we have to learn to be accepting of some of those quirks that make others who they are.

Accepting others does not mean condoning everything they do. In reality, the best friendships are between people who are honest and open with each other and are willing to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). If we are the one receiving “the truth in love,” we will accept as coming from a place of love by someone who desires the best for us. It is like it is stated in Proverbs 27:17- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Think about it, when iron is sharpened, it often includes intense heat, aggressive grinding, and sparks flying. Then there are the finishing touches that put on the fine edge and the polished shine.

Knowing how relationships work, it makes me often wonder why we all can’t just get along, especially as Christians. Paul says in Ephesians 4:3-6-3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. So that begs the question, why are there more than 200 different churches in the United States and 45,000 churches worldwide? Even though they all recognize God, there are various other dividing points. Paul calls for unity, we call different churches denominations, which by definition is division. We won’t even get into how each denomination of Christianity has their own divisions.

The bigger problem is when the church has in-fighting. I think we all understand that people grow spiritually and different rates. Some people, however, have problems accepting those who are growing slower or faster than they are. Then you have some who judge others because they do something different than what they themselves would do. One time, when I was working as a youth minister, one of the other local congregations had invited us to attend a youth event at their building. I was told by the minister of our congregation we did not attend events there anymore because the last time they went there, a man on the front row was raising his hands when he sang. Friends, if the Spirit moves you to raise your hands, by all means raise your hands!

Paul understood this issue, even in the first century, before any denominations existed, and addressed it with great detail in Romans 14:1-15:13. Obviously Paul is not condoning scriptural error. He is dealing with spiritual maturity and loving one another for who we are, not who others think we should be. The bottom line is, we are to love one another as Christ has loved us (John 13:34). Or as Peter put it in???????????I Peter 4:8-8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

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Read Romans 14:1-15:13