In an attempt at being absolutely transparent with my christian brothers and sisters, let me say that having a disagreement with someone, mainly my wife, and remembering my christian values has been, and still is, one of my biggest struggles. This topic is still so relevant that I can still feel the sting from a recent argument my wife and I had. Today, I wanted to take a minute and explore God’s word has to say.
First off, we are all human. We are going to argue. In Acts 15, Paul and Barnabas have an altercation over who to take with them on a trip. The Bible calls it a “sharp disagreement” and they ended up going their separate ways instead of travelling together. (Acts 15:36-41) These were Godly men. Men who had been leading cities to Jesus, healing the blind, making the lame walk and even they had an argument. So I can’t believe that you and I won’t, at one point or another, have differing opinions that lead to frustration. But what can we do to avoid sinning in the process?
Jesus said in John 15:12, “This is my commandment to you, that you love one another as I have loved you.” Jesus gave this commandment at the last supper among his disciples. What better way to start than this?
So Jesus loved us enough to die for us. He loves us enough to forgive us even after we sin against Him. A perfect example is Paul, mentioned from earlier, who was first called Saul and Saul made a career of hunting down the early Christians and persecuting them. God convicts Saul, he accepts Jesus and then goes on to lead thousands to Jesus Christ and eternal salvation. I say all that to say this, if we are to love one another as Christ loved us, shouldn’t we be willing to forgive each others transgressions?
We can find another great demonstration of this in John chapter 8. The pharisees, hoping to catch Jesus in a moral trap, brought to him a woman who was caught committing adultery. They told Jesus of her sin and reminded Him that the punishment for that sin was to be stoned. And Jesus said those iconic words, ” Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:7. Nobody tossed a rock that day, that’s for sure. After the pharisees left, Jesus told her that even He didn’t condemn her, to stop sinning and be on her way.
Another thing to remember when you start feeling those familiar feelings of anger and frustration is what Jesus told us about judgement. In Mathew 7:2 Jesus says, “For with the judgement you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” This really hits the heart strings of human shortcomings. It is so easy to forgive ourselves for our down falls but how often will we fuss over our friends and family who have similar, sometimes even less severe, faults of their own. I’m guilty of it. I could probably recall a time where I have condemned someone and in the same breath forgiven my own transgressions. Nobody said this was easy though.
Finally, Romans 12:17-19 could be seen as the final nail in our coffin of anger and arguing saying, “ Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”.” Christ was the perfect example of this, He allowed Himself to be beaten, spit on, and nailed to a cross to die for the very people that sin against Him. He did all of this so it would be possible for us to be saved and spend eternity with our heavenly Father. So while it is so tempting to repay someone who wrongs you with anger and frustration, remember the one who died for you.
It goes without saying that you and I are gonna fail at all of these things. We all measure short when it comes to God’s standards. Thank the Lord for Jesus and his forgiveness. So in the same light of forgiveness, go out and forgive others today. Forgive the ones who hurt you. Do not judge someone to a standard you do not judge yourself. Love one another as Christ loved you.
The Fall Experience 