What Happens When We Disagree?

My experience, having been a part of different churches, especially Baptist churches, is that there is always differences of opinion.

These can include all sorts of topics:

• Timing and means of creation.
• Role of the Old Testament.
• Women in leadership.
• Inclusion of LGBTQ.
• Role of spiritual gifts today.
• Predestination vs free will.
• Drinking alcohol.
• Beliefs about the end-times.

You may be thinking: “Why talk about a difference of opinion? The Bible is clear on all of those issues!”

You may think so but the Christians who have a different opinion equally think that the Bible is clear and that they have the proper interpretation.

That there are different views is obvious. The question concerns how we respond to differences of opinion.

One option is for us to separate ourselves from Christians with different opinions. There have been plenty of church splits, including Baptists, because of differences of interpretations.

Another option is to put all of our energy into trying to convince others of our interpretation. When I was in seminary, there were some male students who didn’t believe in women in ministry. They felt compelled to approach female students and try to convince them that these students were not called by God into ministry.

A final option is for us to respect each other’s differences and worship together. This is not about grudgingly tolerating one another but acknowledging the sincerely held beliefs and agreeing to disagree.

When I study the New Testament church, I do not find a group of Christians who are all alike. There were numerous differences of opinions and hostilities sometimes broke out. The ongoing them is unity within diversity. We love each other, even when (especially when?) we disagree.

Here are some questions to ask when you are struggling with fellow Christians who have different opinions.

• Is the issue and primary or secondary doctrine?
• Why is it you believe what you believe?
• When is the last time you studied what the Bible says on the topic?
• Have you actually listened to the other side?
• Have you ever considered you might be wrong?
• How can you show love to this person?

Have you ever wondered why the Bible isn’t clearer so that we don’t have these disagreements? What if God wanted it this way to see how we will get along with each other when we do disagree?