Can "Good" Christians Disagree?
If you were to choose 10 of your favorite Christians and place them in a room, would they be able to agree on every subject that you speak on? Here are few topics to prime the pump for conversation:
Lifestyle Choices1
Tattoos or not?
Personal music standards
Eating choices & diets (e.g., vegan, paleo diet, etc.)
Drinking alcohol in moderation
Entertainment (movies, TV shows, MMA, horror films, etc.)
Reading books like Harry Potter
Hobbies (how much time/money should one spend?)
Finances (“Is going into debt okay?”)
Social media (what to post? How long can you spend on it?)
Church Convictions
Style of music
Church attire (Sunday best or “Come as you are”?)
Expository preaching or topical
Spiritual gifts
Dispensationalism or Covenantalism
Family Choices
- Discipline
- Education choices (homeschool, public school, or Christian school)
- Can my kid have a cellphone?
- Should we have family devotions?
- Should we be telling our kids that Santa Claus exists?
Political Convictions
- Capitalism vs. Socialism
- Republican vs. Democrat
- Global warming, etc.
The most recent controversy is what to think about the novel coronavirus and how should we respond? Face masks or not? Freedom to travel and meet with others or social distancing? How to respond to the government. What about conspiracy theories!? The list goes on.
Because many good Christians disagree on these important topics, how should we live with one another? The apostle Paul gives us a few principles to live by in Romans 14. In this passage, there were a number of issues these Christian viewed as controversial (e.g., eating meat offered to idols or not? Observing religious holidays, drinking wine, etc.). A longer post can be written on this subject but let me leave you with just a few principles from this passage:
Do not despise your brother or sister (vv. 3–4, 10–11). It is sinful to have a condescending spirit on your brother because he thinks differently than you. We must remember that if God welcomes us with our flaws, we must mirror God’s loving-kindness toward others. Even though we are all in Christ, we are all still “a work in progress”.
Think the best of your brother or sister and be thankful for them (vv. 5–6). If thinking negatively about a brother is to be avoided, thinking positively of them should be pursued. We must realize that Christians come from various backgrounds and traditions and have been raised with certain convictions.We must be thankful God has saved them and welcomes them as a part of his family. And we should (as much as possible) believe that what they are doing is for the glory of God.
Pursue peace and mutual upbuilding (vv. 18–19). I’ve always heard that “the person who is at fault in a car accident is the person who could have avoided it.” I think the same principle carries to Christian unity. As stronger (or weaker) Christians, we must seek ways to live peaceably with all believers. In all ways possible, let us be peacemakers and seek ways to build up one another.
Remember that you will give an account to God for your response (v. 12). Emphasis on “your response”, not your neighbors response. So however you act toward your brother or whatever you think is permissible to do (or not do) do this in faith, not in sin, but in with a clear conscience before God and others.
Disclaimer: As I said, much more can be said on this subject. I’m confident that I will begin developing more of these principles of conscience on a later date. But if you’re anything like me and you’re the type of person who is impatient and needs to know more on the subject, I’d highly recommend Andy Naselli and J.D. Crowley’s book on the conscience. It’s a gold mine.
So, I hope you’ve found a few helpful tips in how to agree (or disagree) with your brothers and sisters. Remember, that in all that you do (disagreeing or not) let us love God and love others. This is what really matters.
1. This blog post and list was inspired by Naselli and Crowley’s book on The Conscience: What It Is, How to Train It, and Loving Those Who Differ
