AGREE TO DISAGREE

By Hal Mortier

Have you noticed lately or is it just me?… It seems today, more than ever, that people struggle very hard to agree on so many different things. Of course my “more than ever” is only 70 years strong, but certainly a reasonable chunk of time for a somewhat formidable opinion. And too, in the disagreements of today, there seems to be a lack of effort to do so in a constructive or edifying way. To me the divisiveness it has created is glaringly greater than I can ever recall during my lifetime of experiences.

The trials of disagreement today are essentially no different than those of the early Christians. In Chapter 14 of Romans, Paul addresses a number of issues of contention in those times. There was quarreling regarding those whose new faith was weak. One person’s faith understanding allowed them to eat anything while another only vegetables. One person regards one day as special, another does not. To eat meat or not? These and other disagreements complicated the acceptance and practice of their new faith. Paul’s answer is in Romans 14:4, “Who are you to judge someone else’s servant?” And later, in Romans 14:10, “You then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt?” And in Romans 14: 13,

“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.”

Politics has always been a breeding ground for disagreement. I may be wrong, but I feel political discussions in the past were more healthy than those in the present. There seems to be a lack of compromise which has historically been the healing balm for disagreement. Additionally the breadth of politics has widened greatly over time, dramatically increasing its impact today. This has abetted the distancing between people. The respect for others’ thoughts and opinions seems to be disappearing, and “middle ground” has become a thing of the past.

Paraphrasing from Romans 14:17… The Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, left or right, mask or no mask, vaccination or no vaccination; but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.

It would do us well to remember Romans 14:19, “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” Let us Agree to Disagree!