QUIT NOT ARGUING. JUST ARGUE THE RIGHT WAY.

A rocky road isn't necessarily a dead-end.  You're out of road when you hit the softness of water, the silence of air, or the sudden stillness of a wall or a tree.  An argument doesn't mean the end of a relationship.  It is persistent silence that you should fear.  So, when Christians of different backgrounds and perspectives disagree about politics, economics, music, law, etc., it doesn't mean that the church is dying, or irrelevant, or broken.  Our disagreements mean that we are diverse and normal---which is O.K.  

I’m not scared of an argument.  I fear the times and circumstances when Christians who disagree just don’t speak to one another. 

I believe that satan relishes the moments when we use denominations and politics to give our brothers and sisters the silent treatment because, if we won’t communicate then we can’t coordinate and while we’re in disarray the enemy can pick us  off a few at a time.

We don't have to agree about everything.  We can argue about it as brothers and sisters sometimes do, but when Daddy calls, siblings stop fighting and say, "Yessir."

Just because your application of a particular verse is idiotic does not mean that I can't work with you to do God's will as stated in the other 31,000+ verses on which we do agree.  And just because you mistakenly think that I'm wrong about a particular social issue, my brother/ sister in Christ, should not prevent you from loving me and coming alongside to do what we both agree the Word of God calls us to do.

Keep in mind that a huge portion of the epistles are dedicated to disagreements between Christians on socio-economic issues or issues of ritual and religioous preference.  Yet those disagreeing believers are the Christians who "turned the world upside down." (Acts 17:6)

Our differences should not end our relationship because our relationship isn't based on common politics.  Our relationship is based on common faith.

Galatians 3: 28     There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 4: 4     There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5     one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6     one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.   

Read Colossians 3: 8-17

1.      Colossians 3: 8-9.  These verses tell us how not to act when we argue with one another.

Colossians 3: 8     But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9     Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,

2.      Colossians 3: 10-11.  If we have really been changed by Christ, then our old priorities of politics and preference become less important than our identity as Christians-- not Conservative christians or Liberal Christians or Evangelical Christians or Progressive Christians, but as sons & daughters of the Living God Christians.

Colossians 3: 10     and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11     where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

3.      Colossians 3: 12-13.  These verses lay out how we are supposed to act with each other even when another Christian ticks us off.

Colossians 3: 12     Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13     bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

4.      Colossians 3: 14.  The bond that joins us is not opinion or interpretation of the data.  The thing that makes me a Christian is the fact that I love God and I love you.  What makes you a Christian is the fact that you love God and, like me or not, you love me.

Colossians 3: 14     But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

1 John 3: 14     We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 15     Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

16     By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

5.      Colossians 3: 15.  As Christians, neither of us has the right to get so heated in an argument that we “lose our religion.”  Whenever my disgust with your position rises to the point that I want to cut you off (or cut you) then I need to remember that it’s only because of God mercy that He didn’t cut me down and cut me off from eternal life.   I need to be so thankful to God that I can’t be hateful of you.

Colossians 3: 15     And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

6.      Colossians 3: 16. When it gets right down to it, we are supposed to be able to publicly worship together because we each live in a constant state personal worship.   Jesus saved you.  The same Jesus saved me.  Who are either of us to act as though Jesus was mistaken.

Colossians 3: 16     Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
 

7.      Colossians 3: 17.  In the end the way we treat one another, the way we serve others, the way we argue with our opponents isn’t about the other person.  It isn’t about ourselves either.  True Christians do what we do the way we do it because even in our conflicts, it’s all about Jesus.

Colossians 3: 17     And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

 The journey of Christian love is often a rocky road.   We walk it together anyway.  We walk the road of Christian love and fellowship imitating the walk of Jesus Christ  because He first walked it for us.

----- Anderson T. Graves II

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is the pastor of Hall Memorial CME Church

Call/ fax: 334-288-0577
Email us at hallmemorialcme1@aol.com
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Mail all contributions to :

Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Rd.,
Montgomery, AL 36116