Working Things Out

One of the marks of community is people working together to overcome their differences (Colossians 3:12-14; 1 Peter 4:8; Ephesians 4:14-16). But it is easy to try to avoid this. It is made particularly easy by the present divided state of the church. Contrary to Scripture, we have become divided over small issues (1 Corinthians 1:10-17; 3:3-4; Romans 14:1-12). And this makes it very easy for people not to work things out, but simply go to the next church down the road, which is only slightly different from the one they left. Also, church leaders can take the attitude, "If you do not like what we do here, just go somewhere else." There is very little incentive to stay and work things out. And in many ways this is tragic, because it can leave a trail of broken relationships on both sides. I do not say it is wrong to leave a church. I have done it myself more than once in the past. But I do think there needs to be an effort to work things out if there is a disagreement. And not to leave just because we did not get our own way.