Brothers, Sisters, please bear with me on this commentary. These last two years have been very tumultuous ones, I have done more growing and changing in these last two years than my entire life previous to them. There is one subject I want to try and discuss head-on. I often write about things that I'm currently going through, I think that is kind of to be expected. I never try to specify individuals in my writings, but sometimes I do hurt feelings because sometimes the people who visit this site recognize themselves in some of the writings. Usually this is just because most of what I write about is common to all of us, most of the time I am just talking about myself, but not always. This time, I want to be very clear, this writing is not intended to point out, belittle, or spotlight anyone. This is just me, writing about things that affect me. And something I want to talk about today is the way a lot of Christians fight among themselves and the attitudes that perhaps cause this. I consider it a tragedy and I wonder how God must mourn when he sees his children fighting each other.  Some Christians choose to fight over every little thing, they are quick to take offense and slow to forgive.  I've seen churches split over relatively minor issues.  Brothers and sisters, does anyone really believe this is the way our Father would have us be?  When we fill our hearts with anger, we don't leave room for mercy and love.  We want to judge each other, perhaps because by seeing the flaws in others, we are diverted from seeing our own failings.  I know I've been guilty of this before.  And I bet you have too.  This article is the first, in what may become several articles attempting to discuss disagreements and conflict among Christians.  I know this subject can be somewhat controversial to some, and I certainly will not claim to have the answers.  I feel I must address this subject, if only to somehow work this out in my own mind, because in the last couple of years I have seen churches split up and stumblingblocks laid before new Christians simply because old Christians couldn't figure out how to disagree peaceably and in love.  How I cringe when I think of the examples we set for young Christians, or non-Christians when they see such behavior in us!  First of all, I have never met two people who have agreed 100% on every aspect of their beliefs, have you? I don't believe I will in this lifetime. Most of us would agree that there are parts of the Bible that are subject to being understood differently amongst people. Sometimes I will read a book in the Bible and come away with a different understanding or see things from a different aspect, that I did not see or understand the first time I read that section of the Bible. I find that as I earnestly study and pray about the Word, I find that sometimes I have had to change my behavior's because I had simply misunderstood passages I had read from an earlier part of my life. Yes, folks, sometimes I've been wrong in my beliefs and have had to change them somewhat. For example, the more I study God's Word about keeping the Sabbath holy, I find that I am changing my own actions. My children certainly appreciate that I don't make them work on the Sabbath!!!! If there's one belief that I know my children will adopt, it will be that one!!! Another example would be tithing. When I first became a Christian, I did not tithe. After spending time studying and praying about this, I began tithing. These are only two examples. There have been, and will be, many other times where I've not understood what God was telling me clearly - but thank God he straightens me out. I find that it is just like Paul says in 

1st Corinthians 13:12
 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

And Brothers and Sisters, as long as we see through a glass, darkly, we will not have perfect understanding, we will know in part. Paul didn't see perfectly and I certainly can't either. So I will do the best I can, and God give me the grace and will to adjust as I understand and see more clearly. Now I am not talking about things that I consider to be basic truths. There are some things that would be hard to misunderstand or disagree on. For example:

1 John 2:1-5
1. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2. And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
3. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

So please note, I am talking about the areas that Christians in all good faith disagree on. I am talking about Christian brothers and sisters who are sincerely following God, not just lip-service Christians, or non-believers. Which brings me to this question - How do I handle or deal with someone who doesn't see it my way? Well, first of all, I need to examine "my way" and make sure it is in alignment with "God's Way"!! But's let's say I keep the Sabbath holy in a slightly different way than another person - am I right and that Brother wrong? Or vice-versa? Or if one Brother fasts on Saturday and I do not - am I wrong, or my Brother? Well folks, the answer is totally dependant on the heart of the man! It's quite possible that both are correct. I think Romans Chapter 14 gives us the answer:


Romans 14:1-23
1. Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
2. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
3. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
4. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
5. One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
6. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
7. For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
8. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
9. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
10. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
12. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
13. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
14. I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
15. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
16. Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
17. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
18. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
19. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
20. For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
21. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
22. Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
23. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

I want to specifically call your attention to verse 3
3. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

Oh Brothers/Sisters, aren't we so judgmental of each other? We are only too quick to despise. We are so quick to find fault in others and so slow to find it in ourselves! Sometimes it seems like we simply cannot stand for someone not to see things exactly like we do. Yet, we make the same mistake, time after time, we forget that we cannot see the heart, we cannot know what is in a man's heart. We are so quick to point out perceived flaws or sin in others. We are so hard and intolerant when someone doesn't see something our way. If they don't see it our way we often judge them as either fools, or just sinful people who just don't want to hear the truth. Let me be clear, I am not for tolerating sin. If you go around willfully sinning, you will be judged. If you go around doing good, you will also be judged. We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. I am not your judge. The pastor is not your judge. Your friends are not your judge. But we all will be judged. You cannot dwell in sin and get away with it. And whatsoever is not of faith is sin. 

To Be Continued...