Disagreeing with Love

Within hours of the Nashville Christian school shooting, the usual arc of disagreement was appearing on social media. ‘Yelling’ from one side were those advocating gun control and chiding anyone thinking otherwise. And ‘yelling’ from the other side were those saying, in essence, “guns don’t kill people; people kill people.” And for good measure, transgenderism was thrown into the mix. Never mind that there are families in shock and grief.

These ‘yelling’ matches have been taking place for a long time, but their intensity has risen dramatically in the last few years. And not just about guns, but also about school policies, abortion, and politics. And both sides are approaching these disagreements with the same vitriol and distrust. Each side labels the other as “extremist” or “idiotic.” Is it any wonder that we have such a difficult time talking with each other rather than at each other.

A number of years ago, a former student took to social media to lambast churches who supported Trump. This person said they could no longer associate with people so heinous. In an attempt to help them step back a bit in their condemnation, I gently reminded them that they were also a sinner and had not confessed and repented of a sin I was aware of.  They lambasted me, too.

I can understand unbelievers reacting in the ways we see today amidst all of our disagreements. But followers of Jesus? Really? We can’t gather together as believers to worship our Lord because of political differences? We can’t treat each other with respect because we disagree on what we consider fundamental issues?

C.S. Lewis said this in his book, Weight of Glory:

There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations - these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit - immortal horrors or everlasting splendors.

Of all among the human race, it should be the follower of Jesus who has the best understanding of the value of individuals because we believe each is created by God (Psalm 139:13-16). That inherent value should give us pause when we are tempted to act harshly toward our fellow created beings, even if we vehemently disagree with them.

I am not implying we should never disagree with one another. The disciples disagreed with each other. Paul and Barnabas did as well. Yet, they were able to work things out and continue to love one another, realizing that was their most powerful witness. I believe we can do the same, but we need to seek God’s power to do it. It does not come naturally to most people. We are told in the Scriptures that the fruit of the Spirit is, “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). Does this bring to mind the attitudes of much of Christendom today? What we each need is a continual filling of the Holy Spirit in order to have the power to bear this fruit, and the intention not to quench the work that he desires to do within us (I Thessalonians 5:19).

While many of our politicians are calling for us to fight, is Jesus calling us to do the same? Or is he calling us to treat each other as fellow creatures of God. If so, let us start talking with each other rather than at one another. Let us be filled with the Spirit and bear his fruit as we interact with others.

I’m convinced most of us are weary of the infighting; we just don’t know how to extricate ourselves from it. May I suggest a good place to start is with our own confession and repentance, and then to ask the Lord for the filling of his Holy Spirit that we might bear that fruit in our relationships with other believers. Imagine what a witness that would be to the world at-large!

© Jim Musser 2023 All Scripture references are from the New International Version, 2011.