Great Minds Think Alike ... but, what about those that don't?

'Sai Kung fishing village, Hong Kong'              Pic by: AJ Holmes

   
    When we believe in something, we generally like to believe that what we believe is right. This is especially true when it comes to religion and the many aspects that make it up. However, there will invariably be someone that we come in contact with, that thinks differently to us. In fact, it is a guarantee. The question that must then be asked is, how do you react to people that think, believe and act differently to you? Do you ignore them and hope they will go away, do you get offended by them, thus burning your bridges or do you spend your time and energy trying to convince them of your conviction?


    All of the above courses of action, in my experience, have proven to be futile. So shouldn’t we just learn to get along with everyone and do our part in making the world a more peaceful place? Well, yes. But, before you label me a hippy, I do believe that if we believe in anything strongly enough, there always will be those that oppose you. The ensuing conflict can sometimes then be unavoidable. After all, there are reasons why we believe what we believe, sometimes overwhelming reasons, but often subjective ones.

    I am a firm believer in having convictions, living by them and not compromising on them. It is from this perspective that we have to learn how to relate to people who don’t hold to our convictions, by still acting in love and grace towards them, but still holding true to ourselves. Take the different flavors of Christianity that we have. There are people who are passionate about speaking in tongues, and people that don’t see biblical precedence for it; people who hold the Sabbath with fervency and others who see life as God’s day of rest. Still some who believe that when we partake in Holy Communion that it is literally Jesus’ body and others see it only as a representation. There are nearly as many different beliefs on the body of Christ as there are believers. But, believe we must.

    The inevitability of differing beliefs means we have to learn to deal with the people that hold them, without burning any bridges and dragging Jesus’ name through the mud. To do so objectively we have to look at what Jesus looks at, the heart:

“For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking (physical actions), but righteousness and peace and joy (issues of the heart) in the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 14:17 (NKJV brackets own)

    Paul makes this statement while addressing the believers in Rome on differing traditions. The Jewish converts insisted on keeping certain holy days and only eating certain foods (See Romans 14 and 15). The gentile converts (from Paganism and Mythology), were insisting that they drop these traditions. But, Paul intervened by saying that if it was compromising on their convictions, then they should not drop these beliefs; as long as they did not trust in these traditions for salvation or for right-standing with God (righteousness). Paul pointed out that it was not the actions that counted, it was the state of the heart; the attitude and intent with which they did it.

    It is only by grace, through faith, that we are saved. No works or traditions can earn us salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9; Gal 2:16, 2:21)For some people, that’s where the grace ends and they then rely on their righteous deeds. I don’t believe that this is what the gospel teaches. But, what do I do with people that do believe in a works based Christianity?

    This is what I propose to you: Let’s stop judging people for doing things differently. Let’s love them and show grace towards them. Let’s live and demonstrate the heart of Jesus and celebrate the different flavors of Christianity, but not by compromising on what God is telling us as individuals. Let’s not get intimidated by differing beliefs. Let’s stop being insecure and instead of splitting over differing doctrine, let's unite around One Man, Jesus!