This seems the hardest path today. In every corner of our lives, we are told that those who disagree with us should not be part of us. Failing to convince "them," "we" must leave. The irony, of course, is we are all still here in our towns or in our country...and sometimes in our churches. And we look at each other, and we hate each other--for leaving or for staying or for refusing to think-like-us.
Paul offers a different path in his first letter to the Corinthians (I Cor. 1:1-19). I'm not sure I'm comforted by the fact that the church at Corinth was fighting among themselves about who was "right," which "party" they belonged to.
Paul's eloquent reminder starts with the reality that God calls us together "so that we are not lacking in any spiritual gift." We are not called together because we agree, we are together because our gifts are needed in community. Given that foundation, we are to be united in the same mind--trust in Jesus Christ and the same purpose--this transformation of the world that Jesus works to accomplish.
We have never been asked to think the same. We are asked to live in reconciled community, serving God and neighbor together and working toward the reconciliation of all creation.
I can see why leaving is easier...
Guess we have to ask ourselves if we want easy or if we want Kingdom of God.
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