When I look around at society today, it is apparent that we are a divided people and we have lost the ability to simply disagree with one another. It is not enough for this cancel culture to let you have your opinion. If I don’t like your opinion, I want to shut you down, cancel you, because it is not possible for you to have a reasonable opinion if you disagree with me. If you disagree with me, you are clearly a wicked person with dangerous ideas! While that is not remotely true, that is what many believe, and we see displayed in their behavior.
I am afraid that this mindset has crept into the church. I see two areas where it is on display right now. The first area is politics. We have to be careful as followers of Christ to make sure we can show love to those we disagree with whether inside the body of outside the body of Christ. It is possible to disagree with someone and to disagree strongly without being unloving in our behavior toward them. I know I have to fight the urge to think that someone has to be wicked if they support this or that. However, Christ died for all and even if their position is wicked, they are redeemable through the blood of Christ.
The other area where I see this on display right now is mask vs no mask. People that are convinced there is no need to wear a mask can be condescending and unkind to those who do wear masks. People that wear masks can be hateful to those that don’t wear masks. In the body of Christ we must be more spiritually mature than that. We must have love for our brothers and sisters and not see it as our personal mission to convince everyone to agree with us on this matter. Paul makes it clear in Ephesians about how we are to treat one another.
Ephesians 4:1-3
CSB17 Ephesians 4:1 Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to live worthy of the calling you have received, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
In politics and in masks we can’t forget these words from the Apostle Paul. We must be humble and gentle if we are going to honor God. We must have patience and bear with one another in love if we are going to honor God. Finally, we must make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the body of Christ. Ask God to help you be honest before Him and to yourself to check your attitude. If it is your goal to convince everyone you are right, you probably aren’t seeking to honor God. Your attitude toward others is a reflection of your heart, if God is in charge in your heart your attitude towards others will be much better.
In His Amazing Grace,
Dan