May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had,so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. Romans 15:5-7
We are exhorted to accept one another, or as another translation puts it, treat each other as welcome guests. That goes beyond tolerating and points to actively honoring the person. Well, you may say, that was easier back then. Really? The Church suddenly contained people from varying socio-economic groups that had not spoken to each other before. The context for this passage is the divide between Jew and Gentile, who were not even permitted to eat together without causing uncleanness. Now, they are told to welcome one another, with the respect of honored guests.
The only instruction in the passage on how to carry this out is to do it as Christ did it for us. So, how did Christ welcome us?
While we were in our sin But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
I don’t need to agree with someone to bring him close and welcome him.
By coming to us We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19
Jesus initiated the relationship. He welcomed us.
Sacrificially For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
Fellowship in diversity requires sacrifices of our own preferences and putting our wants second.
With love and understanding Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. Isaiah 30:18
Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her. Luke 1:58
Does this mean we can’t wrestle with differences in pursuit of the truth? No, iron sharpens iron. Challenge one another – in love and humility. God does not leave us unchanged, yet He welcomes us as we were.
How do I treat those in the Church I disagree with? Am I welcoming despite our differences? I need to accept my brothers and sisters who differ from me - even while our differences remain. In fact, I need to pursue them even at great cost and invite them in to fellowship. Let’s not let doctrinal differences, political opinions or even worship styles divide the Body of Christ for we share one faith and one Spirit. Instead, let us welcome one another – so that with one mind we may glorify God.
My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in you. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. John 17:20-21
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