Can you love someone you disagree with?
We are worth more than our political ideologies, our religious exemptions, and our personal preferences.
Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. But we must hold on to the progress we have already made. (Philippians 3:15-16)
I don’t like conflict. It makes me feel sick at my stomach. Even if it’s something small or unimportant, conflict nauseates me. I don’t like raised voices. I don’t like mudslinging. I don’t like arguments. So, as you can imagine, I’ve been watching nothing but the Great British Baking Show for several months while election coverage has been going on.
It’s ironic, because one of the foundational freedoms our great nation was built on was the right to disagree. And even though I don’t like conflict, I will fight for that right, not just for myself but for others. Disagreement may cause arguments and loud discussions and hard conversations, but without the right to disagree, we aren’t free to have our own thoughts.
Yes, I know this is a strange topic for a devotional theme about unity, but it’s true. I honestly don’t think there can be unity unless people acknowledge that it’s impossible for us to agree on everything. Everyone will always have a difference of opinion about something.
Disagreement doesn’t prevent unity. Disagreement supports unity, as long as we don’t allow what we disagree about to define us. We get into trouble by demanding that everyone agree with us about everything all the time. That’s just not going to happen.
I love how Paul instructs the Church of Philippi to manage disagreement, because the church in-fighting didn’t start in the modern era. The church has always been a gathering of imperfect people with their own opinions and their own life journeys. Conflict isn’t new, my friends.
Being able to love someone in spite of not agreeing with them is a mark of spiritual maturity. And I’m not talking about loving that person from a distance; I’m talking about serving that person, sacrificing for that person, loving that person the way Jesus did even though you don’t agree with their opinions.
Yes, even their political opinions.
So much of the discord and conflict that happens between people takes place because we think we can change someone’s mind or heart. And that is not a power any human has. Only God can change a person’s heart.
If you aren’t free to disagree with someone, be careful. Jesus and His story is all about being free to make your own choices. That’s why He died; so that we could have a choice.
You have the right to disagree, even with Jesus. I don’t recommend it, of course, but that choice is up to you. Not me.
I can’t change your mind, and you can’t change mine. We both have opinions. We both have hills that we’ll die on. But those opinions and thoughts and convictions don’t define me, just like they don’t define you. We are worth more than our political ideologies, our religious exemptions, and our personal preferences.
We are going to disagree. And you know what? That’s okay.
My love for you (and anyone else) isn’t based on whether we share a political opinion or a religious belief. My love for you is based on the fact that Jesus loves you and He loves me. And because of His love, I try to love everyone for His sake, even if they don’t believe in Him and especially if they don’t agree with me.
Questions for Reflection
Why do you think it’s so important to allow another person to believe something different than you do?
How is it possible for disagreement to support unity?
How can you show love to someone who disagrees with you?
Weekly Memory Verse
