None of us get through life without hardship. It is impossible to live in complete harmony with everyone around you. There is no utopian society that has worked. All attempts at such have failed. The reason is simple: we live in a world where corruption and ruin have the dominant hand, spreading its fingers over everything from geography to politics and even to the vast expanses of the human heart. A very optimistic sort could say, "Love everyone and you will find perfect harmony." Only one person in this world has ever been perfect at loving everyone, and those he loved tortured, mocked, spit upon and crucified him.
Yet just because the world is an unfriendly place doesn't mean there is no chance at harmony. There will be harmony. We will love and be loved, enjoying friendship and loving companionship. But there will also be times when we want to scream, rant, hurt and maim. It is human nature. Jesus speaks to such situations. He tells us what to do when we have difficulties with another person, whether it be difficulties from the minor to the major. A biblical outline for approaching each other.
First, we need to confront the person we are feeling a little tension between. Try to talk some sense into them, lovingly and gently. An entire year of sermons could be spent on what it means to be loving and gentle, but there's no room - nor desire - for that here. If no ground is made from that, then gather some other people and, as a group, approach this person. If no ground is made even then, take it to the church - in my opinion, take it to the leaders of the church. Ministers, deacons, priests, what have you. And if no reconciliation has been discovered, gently break ties with that person, loving them all the same and forgiving them at the same time. This is the biblical way.
Yet just because the world is an unfriendly place doesn't mean there is no chance at harmony. There will be harmony. We will love and be loved, enjoying friendship and loving companionship. But there will also be times when we want to scream, rant, hurt and maim. It is human nature. Jesus speaks to such situations. He tells us what to do when we have difficulties with another person, whether it be difficulties from the minor to the major. A biblical outline for approaching each other.
First, we need to confront the person we are feeling a little tension between. Try to talk some sense into them, lovingly and gently. An entire year of sermons could be spent on what it means to be loving and gentle, but there's no room - nor desire - for that here. If no ground is made from that, then gather some other people and, as a group, approach this person. If no ground is made even then, take it to the church - in my opinion, take it to the leaders of the church. Ministers, deacons, priests, what have you. And if no reconciliation has been discovered, gently break ties with that person, loving them all the same and forgiving them at the same time. This is the biblical way.
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