Focus On What Matters
So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. -- Galatians 5:1
We are all free to have our own opinions. We’re fortunate that way. Most of us enjoy expressing those opinions. Some look forward to stirring up a bit of controversy. Others can’t believe anyone would dare to disagree with their “right” way of thinking.
Yet so many times we get in a dither about things that really don’t matter. Seriously. We aren’t arguing issues like John 3:16. Nope we’re arguing about whether to sing a traditional hymn or a contemporary song. We argue about the temperature in the sanctuary. We disagree on the focus of mission work. I could go on and on.
The thing is most of those things folks get so upset about don’t matter. It’s just personal opinion. And everyone is entitled to his own. It doesn’t make someone else’s opinion any less correct. It’s just part of that unique difference between all of us.
The problem comes when all those petty squabbles take away from the message of Jesus Christ. We spend so much time focusing on things that don’t matter that we neglect those things that do. And, worse, others see our disagreements and use it as an excuse to pull away from the Church or not even hear its message the first time.
Oswald Chambers warns against being impatient with others, suggesting instead that we deal with others with the patience and gentleness God has shown us. Never back away from the core issues of the Bible. But remember “Jesus said, ‘Go and make disciples,’ not ‘make converts to your opinions.’”
So, go ahead and exercise your freedom to have opinions all your own. Just allow others the same freedom as you.
No comments:
Post a Comment