Coping With Differences of opinion “All the world’s a little strange, Excepting thee and me. And even thee is a little strange”

Coping With Differences All the flowers in God’s garden are beautiful, but no two flowers are the same Unity Uniformity

Coping With Differences What causes them? What types are there? How to handle them

What causes Differences? GOD does e.g. Babel was His idea!!! Genetics: different physical attributes, and God-given temperaments Cultural differences are profound and ground in!! Including across generations

Big Issue for the Early Church In the Old Testament the “People of God” were an extremely homogeneous bunch. The Law of Moses was the universally accepted body of truth for Israel. Everyone believed the same thing! Only Israelites were the people of God. BUT EVERYTHING WAS ABOUT TO CHANGE

Enter the Greeks (oops Gentiles) This was a huge “game changer” How could those who were considered “strangers” and outsiders to the Covenant of God, now be considered our equals? Gal 3:28 You must be joking!! Fiddler on the Roof, “If I bend that far, I’ll break!”

The Food Issue Meat vs Vegetables 1 Cor 8: Food offered to idols Jewish background believers grew up with a list of “unclean foods” Greeks LOVE their barbecued pork chops!! What’s all this about pork being unclean?? A fight’s about to break out at our fellowship luncheon!!

The Global Food Divide - Today Indian Christians LOVE beef… their Hindu neighbours / mission field hold the cow sacred Chinese Malaysian Christians LOVE pork… their Muslim neighbours / mission field hold pork unclean What should the Christians do about that? “become all things to all men” 1 Cor 9

The Day Issue  One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Rom 14:5 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. Col 2:16

Change Can Hurt It is resisted It takes time Acts 10 – 11 Cornelius Galatians 2 Paul publicly confronts Peter Circumcision Party caused havoc from then on

The Nature of Change And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.” Mark 2:22

How to Handle Differences Romans 14 Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. 2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. v 1-3

How to Handle Differences Romans 14 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand. v 4 “Judge not that you be not judged”

How to Handle Differences Romans 14 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. 6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. personal convictions vs biblical convictions

How to Handle Differences Romans 14 You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. v 10

How to Handle Differences Romans 14  Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. v 13-14  For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving 1 Tim 4:4

How to Handle Differences Romans 14 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. v 15 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall. Paul & Aridhi 1 Cor 8:13

How to Handle Differences Romans 14 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall. “Live considerately of one another”

How to Handle Differences Romans 14 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. v 22 Of course you can share what you believe with one another, but allow people room to not agree with you (i.e. respect them) Would you rather win a friend or win an argument?

Or to put it differently.. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Phil 3:15-16 Joe C John 8:31,32

Romans 15 continues…. We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. Rom 15:1-2

Romans 15 continues… May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. Rom 15:5-7

When Conflict Arises “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. Matt 5:23-24 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. Matt 18:15

It Takes 2 to Tangle! (Tango) If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Rom 12:18 If it’s not possible to come to a workable compromise: Agree to disagree Give each other a “wide berth” (Paul & Barnabas) Pray for each others’ well-being

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