The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"The Mandate of Meekness"
Born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ can - and must - disagree agreeably.
"As touching our brother Apollos, I greatly desired him to come unto you with the brethren: but his will was not at all to come at this time; but he will come when he shall have convenient time" (I Corinthians 16:12).
While not a matter of doctrine and practice, the Apostle Paul reveals and confirms the truth of how we must relate to each other when we don't see eye to eye on matters. Paul "greatly desired" Apollos to visit the Corinthians. Apollos, conversely, "was not at all" desirous to do so. Paul states the difference, and we might surmise the two had communication with one another in which they directly and forthrightly stated their positions. However, not a trace of dismissiveness, disrespect, or disunity can be found in the Apostle's mention of his disagreement with Apollos. He states his and his brother's position, and then goes on to address other matters.
"The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient" (II Timothy 2:24).
If believers could not, in the love of Christ, disagree agreeably, our faith would not be based on truth. There would no power in the Gospel, no hope for relationship between God and man, or between man and man. It would all be the most deceptive of shams. Of course, the truth of the matter is that we can see things differently without rancor, and we can communicate with one another in respect. Perhaps most importantly, even if we are very sure our position is Biblically accurate, we can remember that it is also incomplete. We can be correct about God's truth, and function accordingly. Our convictions, however, are never comprehensive. The best and brightest in the body of Christ know nothing yet as they ought to know (I Corinthians 8:2). Thus, all believers must state our positions with deep humility, even as we forthrightly state the truth as we see it - "speaking the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15).
To love and honor the heart of our brother takes precedence over winning an argument with him, even when others are watching or listening. This does not preclude stating our case, and in fact, makes it all the more important that we bring our best conclusions to the table. In many matters of doctrine and practice, somebody may be factually right and somebody may be factually wrong. However, all parties err when we allow rancor, ridicule, and disrespect to characterize our earnest contending for the faith (Jude 1:3). History records far too much of such darkness expressed in the body of Christ by those ostensibly seeking to convey the light. May God lead and enable us to stand for His truth, having first knelt before Him to seek His grace to honor Him and our brother by the humility that must accompany conviction. Yes, as we "earnestly contend," we also heed Paul's mandate of meekness…
"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."(Ephesians 4:1-3)
Weekly Memory Verse
What hast thou that thou didst not receive?
(I Corinthians 4:7)
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