Agreeing to Disagree
I remember hearing my dad talk about how difficult it was to walk
away from unending arguments over differing interpretations of the
Bible. By contrast he recalled how good it was when both sides agreed to
disagree.
But is it really possible to set aside irreconcilable differences when so much seems to be at stake? That’s one of the questions the apostle Paul answers in his New Testament letter to the Romans. Writing to readers caught in social, political, and religious conflict, he suggests ways of finding common ground even under the most polarized conditions (14:5–6).
According to Paul, the way to agree to disagree is to recall that each of us will answer to the Lord not only for our opinions but also for how we treat one another in our differences (v. 10).
Conditions of conflict can actually become occasions to remember that there are some things more important than our own ideas—even more than our interpretations of the Bible. All of us will answer for whether we have loved one another, and even our enemies, as Christ loved us.
Now that I think of it, I remember that my dad used to talk about how good it is not just to agree to disagree but to do so with mutual love and respect.
But is it really possible to set aside irreconcilable differences when so much seems to be at stake? That’s one of the questions the apostle Paul answers in his New Testament letter to the Romans. Writing to readers caught in social, political, and religious conflict, he suggests ways of finding common ground even under the most polarized conditions (14:5–6).
According to Paul, the way to agree to disagree is to recall that each of us will answer to the Lord not only for our opinions but also for how we treat one another in our differences (v. 10).
Conditions of conflict can actually become occasions to remember that there are some things more important than our own ideas—even more than our interpretations of the Bible. All of us will answer for whether we have loved one another, and even our enemies, as Christ loved us.
Now that I think of it, I remember that my dad used to talk about how good it is not just to agree to disagree but to do so with mutual love and respect.
Father, please enable us to be patient and kind with those who don’t agree with us about anything or everything.
We can agree to disagree—in love.
Yes! Much needed reminder!
ReplyDeleteAgreed! I have had many conversations about the bible and how we just disagree about what the bible is telling us. It's healthy to disagree and have different opinions, but I think we need to be careful with the way we go about it. We need to treat those conversations with care because you would never want to discourage someone from their faith by telling them they are wrong. he suggests ways of finding common ground even under the most polarized conditions (14:5–6). Finding an even playing ground is so important, so that everyone can see eye to eye.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful and inspiring reminder.
How appropriate for the time we are living in these days...
ReplyDeleteI agree, especially since our nation is so polarized now, we need to find common ground. Find out what unites us, not our differences. Let's be bridges rather than walls!
ReplyDeleteI agree wholeheartedly as well. I am tired of the intolerance and bickering and nobody really listening or caring. That is all the media seems to report on and if everyone acknowledged who we will all be accountable to, it would save a lot of heartache.
ReplyDeleteI concur with all the other comments that have been made concerning agreeing to disagree. In the political realm it has gotten ridiculous especially with the media which has lost all sight of objectivity. With the mindset that morality is all relative, it is especially difficult to present difficult truths to a lost world but I venture that this was not too different from the conditions for the early church in the first century. It was only much more severe for them.
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