A Legacy of Blessing: The Problem with Christians
When I was young and in Bible College, a professor in a pastoral theology class quipped, "In ministry, people will drive you crazy!” We all laughed. He was right! I have often joked that I love ministry; it's the people I have a problem with! However, the reality is that people ARE the ministry! Sadly, our world has become politicized and polarized, often spilling over into the church and impacting the relationship between fellow believers.
The Apostle Paul knew a thing or two about difficult relationships with Christians. Writing to the Corinthians, a church full of problem people with all manner of relationship problems, he writes, “Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss” (2 Cor. 13:11-12).
After a difficult letter, Paul ends with this final greeting in vs. 11-12, and it gives us a model for dealing with those problem Christians, including ourselves!
Aim for restoration: Restoration implies that something once unified has been broken or fractured and must be intentionally put back together to its former relationship. It speaks of unity.
Comfort one another: When we develop an ongoing empathy for others, their suffering, and their trials, and we enter their life situations with them by laying aside our desires and focusing on encouraging them, we move beyond our selfish desires and see others as Jesus sees them.
Agree with one another: Disunity is one of the leading causes of relational breakdowns and fractures in our local churches and between believers. Psalm 133 gives us an exhortation of the beauty of unity. In part, it says, "Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity” (vs. 1). Dietrich Bonhoeffer, writing in Life Together, wrote, “It is simply not to be taken for granted that the Christian has the privilege of living among other Christians. Jesus Christ lived in the midst of his enemies. At the end all of his disciples deserted him. On the cross he was utterly alone, surrounded by evildoers and mockers. For this cause he had come, to bring peace to the enemies of God. So the Christian too, belongs not in the seclusion of a cloistered life but in the thick of foes. There is his commission, his work.” Unity must be intentional as it does not happen naturally. It is not just us four and no more, separated from those we disagree with or separating ourselves from the world – it is in the world but not of the world that we find our commission and our need for unity as fellow believers.
Live in peace: Peace is not just the absence of conflict. It is a mutual understanding to agree to disagree, when necessary, yet remain in relationship with others. It speaks of doing all we can personally to de-escalate potential areas of relational conflict or struggle that maintain the bond of unity.
Greet one another with a holy kiss: Be kind. Can we warmly embrace (however you practice that!) one another without the strain of personal conflict? To put it in our cultural understanding, can we extend a warm-hearted handshake as we continue in a relationship with one another? Greet one another with a holy kiss implies that we will be in relationship, part of the same congregation, small group, Bible study, etc. Or do we church hop, shop, and escape rather than restoring fellowship?
The problem with Christians may be you and me! Let us learn to get along, build up, and support one another, laying aside our own wants and desires to see others strengthened in the faith and in unity. Now, about that holy kiss . . .
Rev. Bill Allan, AGC President