Leaving War Behind

Disagreements, fighting, and hatred—these things seem common in the wider community of Christendom today. Politics, theology, even personal preference create seemingly insurmountable rifts. It’s hard not to see ourselves as being “at war.”

We’re not doomed to be stuck here, though. It is possible to find a path out of this destructive war and into a spacious place of loving each other even as we disagree. We find this path as we are equipped and empowered and motivated by the Holy Spirit to engage with (and, yes, disagree with) one another.

The apostle Paul talked about how, as the people in the church disagree, there’s an easy way to tell if someone is following Christ. It’s not by looking at the external obedience to the law but by looking to the singular rule that sets us free from the law: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Galatians 5:14).

He then warns that if we continually bite at each other, eventually we’ll be consumed.

So what’s the answer? How can we live in a way that we won’t destroy ourselves with our arguments? Paul says it’s simple: “Walk by the Spirit” (verse 16).

Paul tells us exactly what it looks like when someone has allowed the Spirit to transform their lives. He uses the metaphor of the Spirit bearing fruit in our lives. Once the Spirit is planted in us, we should expect there to be continual growth that leads to “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (verses 22-23).

In the days to come, we’ll be looking at each of these qualities individually, and how they can help us be more loving in our disagreements.

Questions for Reflection

What disagreements have you been having lately? Who does it feel like you’ve been “at war” with? Open your mind to God’s perspective on your own motives and behavior amid these conflicts.