Travis Kolder

You and I will disagree.

Most people think this is a problem. I disagree.

First of all, I disagree with myself sometimes. You may think that’s impossible, but as a growing human being, I change my mind sometimes. I think that’s healthy.

Other times, Future Me disagrees with Present Me. Or, sometimes Present Me disagrees with Past Me. So if I argue with myself, I’m bound to disagree with a completely different human being from time to time.

The question isn’t whether we disagree. The question is what we do with the disagreement.

Some disagreement comes from one or more of us not being submitted to Jesus. The fix for that is for both of us to submit to Christ in whatever area.

But a lot of disagreements come from the fact that we’re human. We’ll approach things differently. It’s bound to happen. In those places, the fix is for us to accept one another as Christ has accepted us. Remember: God has accepted Communists, Trump supporters, terrorists, homosexuals, and housewives when they’ve repented and turned to Jesus. His very first disciples contained a tax collector and a zealot who wanted to overthrow the Romans because of taxation!

The point is that Christ calls men and women from different backgrounds. He also calls us to accept believers who agree with us on Jesus but disagree with us on other issues.  This requires us to sacrifice and put others before ourselves.  The only way a body can continue in this very diverse situation is if the unity that they have is in Jesus.

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:11

And if you and I disagree about something, even about spiritual matters, but we are both following the real Jesus and seeking to understand and obey the Bible, then I can put up with you disagreeing with me.  I hope you can put up with me disagreeing with you.

I write these words about you and me. But if you’ve been paying attention, they’re not just about you and me. They’re about how much we are all willing to lay down our lives in order to build the body of Christ on its one foundation—Jesus.