Together part 4
Let me throw my memory verse down and then spend the rest of the Rant trying to explain it. Because it takes a little explaining. Ok? Good. "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1 Corinthians 1:10). Now, on the surface, it may seem like this verse is advocating that we all be religious robots. That we all fit into one little box. Drink the preacher's kool-aid and nobody step out of line. But I don't think that's what's what. At all. If you're in place where you have to believe or else... that's not the right place to be. God isn't about rules and regulations and do this or else. God is love. THAT'S the same thing that we're supposed to speak. That's why (and how) there are to be no divisions among us. That's how we join together in the same mind (of Christ) and (righteous) judgment of God. Its not about everybody being exactly the same. Variety is the spice of life. Our differences are what keeps things interesting. And, listen, having things in common is great. Truly. Being able to share things like music, movies, whatever. Common ground is important. But the goal is not for us (for anybody!) to be exactly the same. Again, God doesn't want robots. He made you... YOU. Specifically. On purpose. For purpose. By purpose. You are the you that you're supposed to be. The key is not to be someone you're not. The key is to be who you really are, by knowing who you really are. Who you are in Christ. Which is who Christ is in you. So when we come together, its not about everybody being exactly the same. One of the pastors at my old church would always say, "Major on the majors and minor on the minors." Which means, if its not important... just let it go. FIND that common ground. I believe that if you want to, you can always find a way to connect with someone. On the other hand, I believe that if you're looking for reasons to NOT like someone, you'll be able to find them. It all depends on that mind and that judgment. Because the mind of Christ only thinks good thoughts. Thoughts of peace and not of evil. That righteous judgment of God is not condemning people for doing things we don't like, but loving people no matter what. Basically, what I'm trying to say is, if you want to be in a relationship with someone... you probably can. And I'm not talking 100%, because there are times that things just don't work out no matter how hard you try. But I'm saying, once you give it all you've got that's either enough, or its not. You have to give it your all though. You have to try. Find that common ground, if you can. Don't expect people to be what you think they should be. Let people be what (and who) they are. Line up with love. That's literally all you can do. Speak love. Let love cover the multitude of sins. Be perfectly joined together--not because we're necessarily exactly the same--but because we have the same foundation. That common ground. Love. Let love be our point of connection. Our point of commonality. Its all about love!