Jesus said go and make disciples. Disciples should be teachable. Instead, most of us become dogmatic. We don’t learn. We accept tradition. We accept the view that “this is how we always do it.” We’re like “this is this and that is that and don’t vary from this or we will have to paint you as some sort of heathen.”
Yes, there are some that have “strayed from the faith,” but just because someone disagrees with you doesn’t mean they’ve strayed from the faith. Think about this, maybe it’s you that strayed. Maybe we should each learn from each other. Listen to what the other is saying. I once saw a quote that said, “There are three sides to every story – yours, mine and the truth.” Don’t trash your brother because you don’t agree with them. John once said, “He who says he loves God and hates his brother, is a liar.” 1 John 4:20.
What is your “faith” in? What have you learned? What have you been taught?
"Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18.
Can we be reasonable? “God said it. I believe it. That settles it,” is not very reasonable. I understand the view behind it, but it isn’t very helpful. No one likes to have their views challenged. Why do people want to censor others? Because they don’t want to hear any views that are different than theirs. It’s on both sides of the political spectrum. It’s in most of the religious communities. We isolate ourselves from opposing views because it makes us uncomfortable.
Paul said we should be like Bereans. “Listen to what he says, but check it out.” In the new vernacular, “Listen, but verify.” Acts 17:11.
Me? I’m confident in what I believe. What do I believe? I believe that God loved me enough to take my sins on His shoulders and nailed them to the cross so I don’t have to hope I’m good enough. God gave me hope in knowing that I am good enough in Christ.
What does that mean for my relationship with others? I can hang out and talk with others, and still love them. I don’t have to agree with them. I don’t even have to discuss my views with them. I am confident in my relationship with Jesus. Does that mean I haven’t changed my views on some issues? No. I have altered my views on some things. I’ve moved to a more loving view.
My views aren’t perfect. I’m constantly learning and growing. I never believe that my view is the final view. The one thing that I am sure of is, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but will have everlasting life.” John 3:16
There is so much more I could say on this, but I leave at that for right now.
Learn from each other, but above all love each other.
Be blessed. Be a blessing.
Eat cheesecake, listen to Pink Floyd, Love Jesus above all else.
DJ GlenMC
