Vaso de Barro

This post has nothing to do with life in Brasil, but rather life in general and what I've been learning.

You know what I enjoy about my hometown? The unity. Unity is so hard to find these days, even inside one congregation of the church. But my hometown often models this unity very well. Sure, it's a town of about 700 people, with predominately the same race, "religion", socioeconomic status, and other factors that make us look similar on the outside, but it goes beyond those things. I can remember over and over hearing about the work of the "ministerial alliance". That is, many of the churches, both in and outside the city limits, banding together to help those in need (prayer, counseling, financial, or material need to name a few). There was a fire that burned someone's house down: sure, you can stay in the apartment the Christian church building has for visiting missionaries while you get things sorted out. While there, the Baptist church will be responsible for bringing you clothing, the Nazarenes will bring you food, and somebody from the assembly of God will keep your dog, because she needs a big yard. Or, hey, we have a community event in the fall every year. Pastor so and so from Hickory Point will give the prayer, minister Jim Bob from the church of Christ will do a short Bible reading, and the children's minister from the Christian church will be setting up an area for kiddos. Just today I saw a post from one of the ladies active in ministry at my home congregation with pictures of an unfamiliar room decorated for VBS, with the caption, "ready for VBS at the First Baptist Church". We know we don't agree on doctrine. But we love our community's kids and we want to teach them the gospel together. 
Monthly meetings of "hey, who have we seen in need this month?", and going back to your congregation to ask for the money to help. All of these things and a million more bring our community together through ties of faith. There aren't doctrinal battles when trying to determine how to best help the Smith family who just lost their dad in a car accident. There isn't any disagreement on the "right way to go about caring for the family" when someone's son comes back from war in a box. We just come together and love. Sure, we knew there was a time to stand on our beliefs as a church when they disagreed with the beliefs of another congregation. There is a time and place for that, it is absolutely necessary. The church canNOT be let to lose its identity in Christ. But I believe there's also a time to just be quiet and serve.

The example from my hometown has been powerful to me and has greatly influenced my work with the church as I seek to learn more about how to deal with individuals who think differently from me, but work together with me in ministry. I've seen over and over again when personality clashes, or differences in opinion, or doctrinal disagreements have led whole groups to simply drop what they were doing. It's happened here. It happens there. I can't believe we let it. We fight, and when the dust settles it's not the "loser" of the fight who's lying in the dust broken and bleeding. It's the hungry family who needed food. It's the couple, now divorcing, who needed marriage counseling. It's the orphan child who craves attention and love. But we were too busy having differing opinions that we forgot all about them. Let me reiterate: the beliefs of a congregation and its doctrine should be held on to firmly and one should never let go of those important things. (PS, "I know how to go about this better than you do", and differences of personal opinion, are NOT doctrinal differences or valid arguments. EVER).  There is right and wrong. Denominational churches get a lot of stuff wrong and follow the teachings of man over the Bible many times. It's true.  But can we justify arguments over these things, or worse, smaller, silly things like opinions about procedure, taking precedence and hindering us when it comes to loving our neighbor and taking care of their needs? Can we really leave the hopeless without the only Hope that heals? We can do so much more together than we can apart, as individuals and congregations. "If possible, as far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all." (Romans 12:18) An individual needs the support of others to start a food donation program, for example. They don't need fights and "I know better how to do this than you, so we're gonna do it my way or not at all". Gentle guidance, yes. But if what you're going to say is going to hinder someone from doing good to their neighbor, compromise or be quiet. 

" I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."-John 17:23. JESUS said this. Without unity how will the world know Who sent Him?!

Using Paul's example, don't even do something as benign as buy and eat meat from a pagan sacrifice if it would cause your brother to stumble. "For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding." (Romans 14:15-19... read the whole chapter, about even sacrificing what you want to remain living in peace with your brother)

"So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." (James 4:17)
"But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." (1 Timothy 5:8)
"So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil..." (2 Tim. 2:22-24)


Living in love (or trying),
Mindi