Why can’t we get along?
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Jesus Christ…
Philippians 2:5 (NIV)
My great aunt was convinced she was a descendant of the philosopher John Stuart Mill, once dubbed ‘the most influential English-speaking philosopher of the nineteenth century’. I don’t think her theory was ever proven, but she was fond of quoting his sayings, and this one in particular: ‘If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind.’ 1
To me this quotation highlights one of the biggest problems we human beings wrestle with. When we have a difference of opinion, instead of just ‘agreeing to disagree’ we want to take it further. We want to persuade the other person that we are right and they are wrong. And if that doesn’t work, things can get quite heated, can’t they? A bitter falling out. A family feud. A national divide. Imprisonment. Or even war.
In today’s header scripture from Philippians 2, Paul writes from his prison cell to the church in Philippi. He is concerned there is division in the church arising from differences in opinion from ‘opponents’ who were teaching that the law was necessary for salvation. Paul’s fourfold solution? 1. Love one another. 2. Strive for unity. 3. Don’t be selfish, be humble. 4. Don’t look out for your own interests, but those of others. Then he sums it all up in verse 5: ‘In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus…’. Easier said than done, but isn’t this just another one of those ‘impossible commands’?
Not so, says Paul in another letter, this time to the Ephesians: ‘…throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life… let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.’ (Ephesians 4: 22-23 NLT). The Holy Spirit, sent by Jesus to all Christians after he ascended to be with the Father, gives us the mindset of Jesus by renewing our thoughts and attitudes!
Why can’t we get along? Because we are too busy disagreeing with each other and trying to change and control each other to let the Holy Spirit renew our thoughts and attitudes.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help us to set our hearts and minds on things above where Christ is 2 and let us ‘not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of [our] mind.’ 3 We ask this in our Lord Jesus Christ’s holy name, Amen.
Study by Peter Mill
1 On Liberty by John Stuart Mill
2 Collossians 3:1-2
3 Romans 12:2
About the writer:
Peter Mill is a minister in Grace Communion International and Co-Regional Pastor for Scotland, Ireland and Northern England.
Local congregation:
GCI, Edinburgh – Edinburgh has a zoom service at the moment. For details email the local congregational contact below.
Local congregational contact:
Peter Mill
Email: edinburgh@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church