Growing up, one of my favorite things was the puzzle section in Highlights Magazine, with the find-the-difference puzzles. Like Sherlock Holmes, I systematically looked at each picture, section by section, to find the problems and then circled them in thick red marker to point out what was different and therefore wrong. As Christians, don’t we sometimes treat our spiritual brothers and sisters like find-the-difference puzzles? It is incredibly easy to highlight the differences not just between denominations, but even within like-minded churches, not to bring us closer to the truth of the gospel, but often to find solace in the fact that we are the ones who are right.
One of my favorite verses in Scripture is 2 Corinthians 5:9. I love the simplicity of Paul’s words to the church in Corinth. As early Christians struggled with false teachers, persecution, confusion over the gospel, and division within the church, Paul’s message was clear. As believers in Christ, no matter what is happening in the culture around us or even within our churches, our single motivation is pleasing God. As children of God, we are to look to our own holiness as we strive to be more like Christ, focusing on doing what is right rather than on what others are doing differently.
This is what unites us as believers. We have one goal together, and that is to do what is pleasing to God both here in our earthly home and in our future hope of heaven; it is our joy to come together and encourage each other in that goal. We can hold each other accountable, rejoice when a decision pleases God, and weep with someone who is repenting. As believers, we don’t need to belong to the same cookie-cutter church to come alongside one another and encourage holiness. It might be more comfortable to stick close to those who line up exactly with our beliefs, but Jesus did not set that example. He went out and gathered people who did not share His beliefs, both the religious and the lost. So, let’s follow Jesus’ example and cast our relational nets wider as we embrace the freedom of coming alongside each other to live out being pleasing to God.
“So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.” 2 Corinthians 5:9
Taking it Further:
What would it look like if we could come alongside another pastor’s wife whose church looks a little different from ours? Take time to invite another pastor’s wife out for coffee and start building that relationship. Look for what you have in common and start there.