Why Can’t We All Just Gel Along?

“ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

If I were to ask you, who said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand”, the vast majority of you would answer Abraham Lincoln, and you would be correct. In fact, those words came from a speech Lincoln made against slavery over 150 years ago.

What you may not realize is that Lincoln wasn’t the first person to utter those words. The thought actually came from Jesus who once said, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.” (Luke 11:17)

While Lincoln was not particularly known as a religious man, he certainly recognized that biblical principles apply to everyday circumstances that life brings our way. They spoke truth to Lincoln then and they should speak truth to Christians today
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One of the greatest threats to Christianity is coming from within our own walls. Our own denominational beliefs, and more importantly the energy we devote to promoting those beliefs, are dividing Christians across the world. For example, the Baptists believe in eternal security. In other words, if you are truly saved, you cannot lose your salvation. The Methodists, however, do not believe in eternal security. To the Methodists, salvation depends upon continual repentance. Without it, salvation is not assured.

I’m not going to cast judgment on either point of view, although I share one of them. The real question is does it really matter which denomination is right? Live for Lord, pray for forgiveness and do your best to walk in his light, and you don’t have anything to worry about!

We spend a lot of time and energy defending our church doctrine rather than defending the Gospel that saved us. Why don’t we just hold all these thoughts and see what Jesus says about them when we get to heaven? What time we have left should be spent trying to make sure our family, friends and neighbors know Jesus!

If you go to church, someone is going to try to drag you in the argument. Don’t fall for it. Remember these biblical principles when others are trying to get you to take sides on issues that really don’t matter:

1. Love your neighbor as yourself: Jesus once told us that there were two (New Testament) commandments on which all the Law and Prophets hang. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39)

2. Do not judge: The Scripture here is pretty clear. Frankly, it should scare us a little: “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” (Matthew 7:1-2)

3. Don’t Throw Stones: This is one of my favorite verses in the Bible. To those who were about to stone an adulterous woman, Jesus said, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” (John 8:7) It’s a reminder to me that the only way we should look at the sin in someone else’s life is through the sin (and forgiveness) in our own lives.

In my life, I’ve attended about every kind of church you can shake a stick at. I’ve loved them all, and in each one I’ve found and come to love God-fearing Christians that I will see again in heaven.
Regardless of what church you attend, remember, God isn’t as interested in style as he is in substance. Worship him, seek to learn more about him through his Holy Word, walk in close fellowship with him, and enjoy the light of his glory.