Evaluating 40 Days of Community

When you find yourself in an argument with other believers ... Look for God's presence (Matt 28:20). Satan wants us to believe we're in the battle alone.

When you find yourself in an argument with other believers ... Lean on the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:15-16). ... what appears to be right to us may very well be wrong (Prov 14:12). ... Look for the conflict's true source (Eph 6:12).

When you find yourself in an argument with other believers ... Lay down human weapons (2 Cor 10:4-5).

When you find yourself in an argument with other believers ... Learn to use spiritual weapons (2 Cor 10:4). ... After we put on the whole armor of God, we're to "pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests" (Eph 6:18, NIV).

Rick's comments here and in his statement concerning forgiving others is great advice from the scriptures.

We don't always have to agree to get along. ... In an orchestra, there's a big difference between unison and harmony.

I agree with Rick here in matters not commanded in the scripture. However, does this mean that if someone is living in sin that we are to continue to "get along" and fellowship with them? Or if someone is preaching a false gospel in our midst, should we just agree to disagree and remain buddies and chalk it up to difference between trumpets and saxophones? What about someone who says that if you eat ham you are sinning (thus, if you continue in sin, you do not know God)? What about someone who says if you teach men (and you are a godly woman knowledgeable of the scriptures and not teaching error), you are in sin? These are serious allegations that must be treated seriously and not permitted to infect the church. After employing the biblical method of confronting this brother or sister in error, if they do not repent they either must be put out of the congregation and we are not even to eat with them (for sins of morality or teaching a false gospel). We are to practice Biblical separation, and a brother that refuses to walk right must be shunned for both their sake and the sake of the purity of the church. But we are not to treat them like enemies: if they repent, then they are to be welcomed back with loving arms.

Rick's comparison of disagreement to something of beauty (like it was intended to be that way) is not what scripture says. For instance, could he be insinuating that Roman Catholics play trumpets while Evangelicals play saxophones and that both are right and make beautiful music together? But they teach a different gospel from each other. What harmony can there be between truth and error? This is not to say that there are not true believers on either side, but we must make error clear to all by separating from it.

1 Cor 1:10 (NASB) says "Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment." Now this doesn't mean that there won't be disagreements or that we have to get them all worked out before we can fellowship with one another. In some cases where scripture is unclear or where the truth has not been made manifest, untruth may even continue for some time. But where it the difference is clear, we need to stand for truth. The scriptures make it clear that we are all to be truth seekers and lovers of the truth. Everyone who is anointed of God (all true believers) can be taught all things by God (1 John 2:27). This doesn't mean that we don't have to study, yet if we ask God for wisdom and eagerly seek the truth, He has promised that He will give liberally to all without finding fault (James 1:5, see also Col 1:9, 28). And we are to bear with one another and use the spiritual gifts that God has given us for building up the body of Christ.