Why Can't We All Get Along
This is not a topic that is new, in fact disagreement and dissention are behaviors that have been around since the beginning of time. Before the Garden Satan disagreed with God. He wanted too and did convince a third of the angels in Heaven that his way of thinking was right and Gods was wrong. Maybe this is why unity was so important to Jesus. I recently watched a youtube.com video
of this couple (The RV Odd Couple) I instantly became a fan. The husband John (who seems like a really sincere and nice Christian man, in my opinion) experienced the wrath of fellow Christians and he was truly caught off guard the hatefulness of a good number of fellow believers and their anger towards him, He truly was hurt and didn't understand it. I'm sure none of us would expect this from the body of Christ, right?
Well Wrong because today's Christianity is wrought with Christians' whose focus seems to be tearing down anyone who doesn't share their views on Christian topics or observations. Who does that sound like? Everyone else in the world today? I am even going to go as far as calling out some of our spiritual leaders. I wont name names, but I have heard comments made in the recent weeks from Pastors and Spiritual Christian Leaders that were surprisingly condemning and judgmental and off the spiritual track. I have to say that it really confused me. I prayed about it and realized that confusion is not of our God.
That is the real danger here. All this bickering causes people to question, to reject and to be confused about the Gospel. People really need to start examining their hearts and their relationship with Jesus. right now!
Maybe you have heard the story of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane after the Last Supper and before his arrest.
Luke 22:44 states
Do you know what Jesus prayed for? John Chapter 17:13-23 He prayed for his disciples and for all believers. In this prayer, on the night of his arrest he was so anguished, not only for what he was facing, but for what we would face. His deep love for his people then, and for those to come, was of great concern to him on this night. His heart was focused on believers. What in this most anguishing time did Jesus find the most important to thing to pray about? UNITY
13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
Why is it that Christians today find it more important to correct than to love? The world was supposed to look at us with wonder. To see that we have something different, something transcending the rest of the world who are warring and fighting. We were called to be the salt of the earth, a city on a hill. All that the world sees now is Christians attacking each other, self-righteous and angry and hateful. Its shameful. Is it really that important to be right rather than to show grace to your brother and sister, to be humble and loving. Turn the other cheek. Help them to see what's truly important which is to love Jesus and follow him. To come along side of those we share the faith with.
When Jesus returns, as he surely will much sooner than later now, what will he find? Unity in his church? All those unbelievers watching the bickering between Christians why would anyone want to be a part of that? It is love that we are commanded to lead with; always. If we cant even do that between ourselves why would anyone see that we are different from the world.
P.S. Not all Christians are this lost. There are many whose hearts are in the right place and who do lead with love always. Not condoning but not condemning. Correcting in humility, kindness and love, patience. You know; the fruits of the spirit of God. Just saying..............