When Christians Collide

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13

Disagreements happen between Christians.  When Peter disingenuously stopped eating with gentile believers to please the Jews, Paul publicly stood against his hypocrisy (Galatians 2:11-21).  At another time Paul disagreed with Barnabas over John Mark, to the parting of their ways (Acts 15:36-41).

Both times it was a disagreement and not a smackdown. Christ admonishes us to be agreeably disposed to one another in love. Paul may have disagreed with his fellow Christians, but he didn’t allow a spirit of bitterness to divide them. He continued to see them in the light of God’s love and remained in fellowship with them as his brothers in Christ, and they with him.

We as Christians will, at times, collide in the viewpoints or personalities of other Christians, but division is a tool of the Devil. When we disagree and a spirit of bitterness or spiritual division seem to be forming, we can stand firm in the faith wherewith Christ has made us free, forbearing differences, or if need be, forgiving any trespass as Christ forgave us. When strife and division reign on the throne of our lives, Christ cannot be King.

So Paul had disagreements with Peter and Barnabas? Yes, however they never allowed them to end their friendship, nor their eternal brotherhood in Christ, and it never affected the outcome of the preaching and teaching of the good news of Jesus.  When collisions come, we can bear one another with love, patience, and a gentle spirit. It is what Christ did.  It is what He calls us to do, because it is what He’s done for us. 

Ken