Can we agree to disagree and be agreeable?
Across the world there seems to be an increase in intolerance. People talk at each other, instead of to each other. They don’t listen to what is said but instead hold fast to their immovable position or stance, showing limited or no respect to those with an opposing or somewhat slightly different viewpoint, not willing to be potentially influenced by someone else’s view.
We see many examples of this in political standpoints; for example, left or right, liberal or conservative, differences in cultures and socio-economic groupings. Increasingly, it seems that if someone is either different to me or has a different view to me, or both, then they are a threat or are against me and need to be challenged or, as is often the case, simply ignored.
Where does this intolerance come from, because I don’t believe we are born with this predisposition? Why would God programme us this way? The answer is he did not! In fact, if you watch young children engage with each other, they see through any differences, such as colour and ethnicity, cultural differences or socio-economic status—all they see is someone like them, an equal, not threatening to them. How different the world would be if we all engaged with each other as young children do.
By virtue of God’s teachings in the Bible, Christians should set an example of love and tolerance towards each other. Unfortunately, on occasions, our words and behaviours are the complete opposite, making us no different to anyone else. Except as Christians we are supposed to be different and show tolerance, respect and love for others and their views.
In Romans 15, Paul writes of a spirit of unity within the church, of being one. When we come to the place where we can love one another in spite of our differences; when we can accept one another in spite of our disagreements; when we can worship together in spite of our personal opinions, then we are living out what Paul states in Romans 15:7, ‘Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you in order to bring praise to God’.
This kind of unity is accomplished through the practice of tolerance as taught in these verses. Jesus loves each of us unconditionally, with all our faults and failings. So, do you have a problem accepting others just like they are? When people are different from us, we have an obligation to love them and to reach out to them with a Christlike love and compassion. When we see past the differences, then we see what the Holy Spirit can do in both our lives.
Colonel Gerry Walker
Chief Secretary
