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Let's Turn Our Differences...
Into A New Direction!

Rev. John Simpson, General Superintendent
Baptist Union Of Victoria, Australia

The Price Of Disagreements

Let's get at least one major consideration up front right away. If our disagreements lead to broken fellowship and divided churches, we have failed miserably. It does not matter what the issue is, or who we think may be right or wrong.

If there is emotional or spiritual blood on the carpet, we have lost our way. We are no better than the town drunks battling it out behind the pub. Well, may do it with a little more style and sophistication, but the end result is still the same: we have fallen short of living as the people of God should live. At least the drunks will get sober and probably drink together again.

We're Not The First Ones To Fight!

Now, some will say that there is nothing new under the sun. After all, didn't the very friends of Jesus slug it out over who should sit where in the Kingdom? And didn't First Church Corinth manage to create more than a little controversy? 

True, but since when has that made it right for us to lay into each other for the sake of a debating point on some doctrinal dispute? 

The fact is that we desperately need to find ways of turning our differences into new directions. There is great value in honest, open discussion and debate which clears the air, preserves good relationships, develops new insights and builds up the Body of Christ instead of putting it into a sling or on a crutch.

 The Quest For "Synergy"

These days a new word is finding its way into our vocabulary: it is "synergy." It actually describes the outcome of a process which we have always known about: if we share the same devotion to Christ, then we will be committed to working through our differences with good will and genuine care. At the end of the day there will be new insights and strengths.

Synergy is the end product of trading different points of view, different perceptions and, in the process, finding brand new ways of dealing with situations. Rather than arguing for the sake of it and finishing up in opposing corners, the putting together of our differences releases a fresh range of possibilities for understanding and action.

It does not mean that preferred positions have to be set aside or sold down the river. It means that we might still hold our position strongly but we have at least taken the time to find out how another thinks and feels.

We may also be inclined to be a little more accepting of that other view point and start to see why it is held that way. And with an eye open for synergy, we may stumble on a brilliant, unexpected landscape which we did not know even existed. 

We will manage to keep friendships intact and actually deepen our appreciation of those with whom we would have otherwise written off as losers or heretics or both. We will also be much more open to change and looking at old problems in new ways.

Benefits Of Synergy

So how do we go about calling up the benefits of synergy? Some simple tips:

Learn From The...Opposition

The need for extracting the strengths of opposing stances is crucial. If we fail, we will continue to find change difficult; we will constantly spoil fellowship; we will live like paupers when we could be enriched through all the glimpses of truth which we see in very different ways.

If we succeed, debates will be welcomed rather than feared; learning from each other will become a way of life; we will have no need to depart each other's company in frustration.

There will be occasions when, having listened to other's view points and energetically assessed their worth, we may still feel that there is no need to alter our own position. So be it.

The need to stand on our dig and put down others and continue our criticism of them should be a thing of the past. As the old saying goes, we should at least be able to agree to disagree agreeably. This is a little closer to genuine Kingdom living. And this should lead to a new leadership check list:

 *Should this issue be taking the time we are spending on it?

*Is it worth splitting the church?

*Am I acting with (and modeling) grace, humility and patience?

*Am I valuing the Christian calling of others?

*Have I listened to and understood those with whom I disagree?

*What are the strengths of their position?

*What new insights are emerging for me?

*What fresh strategies may emerge to lead us on?

*How can we move forward rather than simply dividing on this matter?

Let's Move Away From Fragile Fellowship

The fact of the matter is that our fellowship is not worth a crumpet if it is so fragile that we split apart at the first opportunity. We are more likely playing power games than being concerned about the service of others. Quite apart from being a very poor witness, it is not the way of Christ.

The sad truth is that there are churches which should be enjoying great health and strength in ministry but which are too often bruised and bloodied by seemingly endless spats. In the middle of our church disputes, I think I can hear Jesus wanting to put a little child before us as a reminder that the Kingdom belongs to children in their simplicity and not to us in our righteous indignation.

It's time for our differences to produce new directions!

Rev. John Simpson

This article is reprinted by permission of the author. It originally appeared in Ministry Perspectives,
a publication of the Baptist Union of Victoria, Australia.