Love Divided

Before moving to Newfoundland, I served on a church board for several years. It was a hundred-year-old back country church with about seventy members. Their history booklet recorded the last horse and buggy pulling into the church yard one Sunday in 1952.
During that time there was a major disagreement in the church, begun by three older couples who wanted things done a certain way, period. Issues percolated for several months, senior leadership was called in, meetings held and proposals made. When things settled, the perpetrators and about half our congregation had left – many were persuaded by the original six people, others were just fed up with turmoil. Thankfully, the remaining parishioners come together in love and prayer to rebuild. The church survived and was welcoming some new folks at the time we moved.
The reason for this reflection is a distressing commentary that surfaced recently about the problem of maintaining balance in a denomination with major theological differences. Before continuing, it would be helpful to review Matthew 22:37-40, where Jesus teaches us the most important points of Christianity in two commandments. God’s Word always has the best answers – we just need to look for them, pray and listen.

Disagreements often happen amongst humans and, as Christians are members of that species, we’re vulnerable. Some issues are legitimate but many get inspired by Satan to disrupt God’s house and, if he can escalate problems, he will. The goal is inciting dissent, leading to argument, firmly entrenched stands, resentment and people divided. The consequence is often a simmering anger with some folks pulled away from God and church, while Satan chuckles.
Historically, he’s been very successful; the list of Christian denominations testifies to this. The more Satan can divide us, the less impact God will have on us and the less impact we’ll have on the world.

It will help if we remember our first love, maybe from somewhere back in Sunday School. Luke showed it in Acts 2:42-44 and Jesus reminded the church in Ephesus about it in Revelation 2:4-5. Dissension harms everyone in some way. Fellow Christians are friends, not just acquaintances, associates, contacts, them, they or those. Our brothers and sisters are people, God’s children whom Christ commanded us to love, even when it’s difficult. Please look for the good and forgive the bad. Friends may disagree but by remaining friends they can do one of two things without capitulation; either find a compromise that each can accept, or respect that they disagree on an issue, then get on with life and friendship. If we’re all in church, we are all in agreement on some things. That’s a good place to start.
Let’s remember John 13:35, keep our love for one another and accept the fact that we will sometimes squabble a bit; however, we can humbly educate ourselves in the art of coming together in disagreement and working things out amongst ourselves for the common good. Our ancestors built great countries and greater faiths doing this very thing – we can too.