Learning to play nice

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. –1 John 1:7 (NIV)

Been thinking about fellowship. Ideally, fellowship would include enjoyment of being in the company of fellow Christians. Unfortunately, we’ve all known brothers and sisters whose company we don’t necessarily prefer. (If you don’t know Brother Cantankerous, you might be him. Just sayin’….) So the basis of fellowship has to be more than that – starting from a deeper level and extending further.

Our fellowship is based, first and foremost, on our common identity in Christ and a common pursuit to live like Jesus. And, I would add, a confidence that that is the aim of my brothers and sisters, even when we disagree on what that looks like, even when one or the other of us stumbles. As Christians, we worship together, we spend time together, we share with one another, we work and serve together for the sake of the Kingdom of Christ.

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. –Philippians 2:1-4 (NIV)

People who get paid to study such matters are predicting a day when Christians with a politically left-leaning mindset and Christians with a politically right-leaning mindset will no longer be willing to assemble together in the same churches. Many teachers, preachers, and pastors are despairing of keeping the peace and abandoning their ministries. Many Christians, weary of the battles and afraid to engage, have opted to continue attending services online or just dropped out altogether. For some, finding a tribe they agree with is more important than being part of a congregation that is promoting spiritual maturity through an honest study and application of the Scriptures.

ALL Christians need to be seeking Scriptural truth with the goal of being completely submitted to Christ. We cannot waver on those questions that have a clear answer already provided by the Holy Spirit. In cases where the answer is less clear? Remarkably, the Spirit covered those too:

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. –Ephesians 5:21 (NIV)

I came across this video that speaks to the issue. Though presented from a secular viewpoint, it borrows some ideas that are curiously biblical, the conclusion being that it takes intentional effort to co-exist with someone who sees the world differently than I do.

In an excellent article outlining five distinctives of the early church, Tim Keller found some values that would be identified with the political left today, as well some that would be associated with the political right. All were counter-cultural then and, to one extent or another, still are. All require us to love God and love others, ahead of our own self-interest as the situation dictates.

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. –Ephesians 4:2-3 (NIV)

Look, it would be nice if we liked each other. It would be nice if we agreed on everything. But that isn’t how it’s always going to be. Which is why the New Testament repeatedly discusses unity, and why Jesus not only prayed it for us, but commanded it of us. It’s the secret sauce that has always made the world take notice.

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. –John 13:34-35 (NIV)