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Accept One Another Like Jesus Did - Romans 15:7
Accept One Another Like Jesus Did - Romans 15:7
Paul wrote: Rom 15:7: "Therefore accept one another, just as Christ also accepted you, to the glory of God." (CSB). Today is understood to mean never disagreeing, never pointing out the error of one’s ways, etc. Then, Jesus is put forth as our model of inclusiveness. What WAS the model of Jesus on this point? (note the following is written in sarcasm and satire – that is, this is NOT the way Jesus dealt with people! And in fact, He did the very opposite (as noted in the scriptures attached to each statement. HD).
· Jesus never disagreed with anyone or debated religious ideas (read Matt. 22).
· Jesus never said anyone was wrong or in error (read Mark 12:24)
· Jesus never was angry with people (read Mark 3:5)
· Jesus never condemned people (read Matthew 23)
· Jesus never said that people were hypocrites (read Luke 13:15; Matt. 6:2, 5, 16; 7:5; 15:7; 22:17; 23:13, 15, 23, 25, 27, 29, etc.).
· Jesus never talked about going to hell (read Matthew 5:22, 29, 30, 10:28; 16:18; 18:9; 23:15, 33; etc.)
Of course, if I am wrong about this, you know you must not disagree with me or tell me I am wrong, or expect me to change my thinking. Hummm… Makes you wonder, doesn’t it? The truth is, Jesus DID disagree with people, he did tell people they were in error, he was angry with some people, he did condemn certain people, he called some hypocrites, and yes, he did warn people that they were on the way to hell unless they changed.
So, in my disagreeing, let me follow Paul’s instruction: “The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will” (2 Tim. 2:24-26).
What are you like when you disagree with people?
Hugh DeLong
