“disagree” and “different”—a ramble

The other evening I was discussing theological understandings with one of my dearest believing brothers, and in the course of our discussion he commented “well, I guess we will just have to agree to disagree on that point.”  His tone was loving and we were about to proceed with other matters when I reactively responded with “let’s say we agree to be different on this point because ‘disagree’ sounds combative, where ‘different’ allows for you to have your view and me to have mine.”  Then our dialogue moved on to other topics, some theological and some not. 

Since then I have pondered my use of disagree and different, wondering if there really was much of a difference.  Does “disagree” really have more of a combative meaning than “different?”  So to The American Heritage Dictionary I went.  Here is what it presents as definitions:

disagree  1 to fail to correspond  2 a to have a different opinion  b to dispute; quarrel  3 to cause adverse effects   

different  1 unlike in form, quality, amount, or nature; dissimilar   2 a distinct or separate  b various or assorted  3 differing from all others; unusual

So it appears (to me) my intuition was somewhat valid.  The word disagree does have a more combative tone since its definition mentions “fail,” “dispute,” “quarrel,” and “adverse.”  Those are among the last words that should apply to genuine brothers in Christ.  Or at least that is my opinion.

Which brings up another thing.  Why is it now days that so many churchgoers (people who claim to be Christian) disagree with one another to the point of combativeness, especially on minor issues where there are no sins involved?  Admittedly (and with shame) I have caught myself involved in it.  This is not to say there are no issues that deserve taking a stand on, because there surely are.  But these ought to be rare occurrences among Bible-believing Christians.  And even then, Scripture should be able to quickly settle them without digging in to defend what some see as a “hill to die on.”        

Furthermore, why do we, the Church, allow our differences to separate what is supposed to be “one body?”  Were not the disciples of Jesus different individuals, from different backgrounds, with different ideas, with different convictions about pleasing God?  One was a hated tax collector, one a militant zealot, several were commercial fishermen, etc.  And that assortment of personalities lived together day and night for three years.  Sure there were times of tension and differences, but, just like we are supposed to do with the Bible, their Rabbi’s words quickly settled them.  And their little band existed together as brothers. 

I think about the endless issues we today see as differences allowed to separate the Lord’s church—most of them petty in the Kingdom’s scheme of things.  Not only do we allow them, some actually promote them, even in leadership of the church.  If someone does not agree with an understanding or interpretation of Scripture, we separate them out of the fold…or we separate from them. If they are of another culture, we do the same. If they are young, old, challenging, questioning, single, poor, diseased, etc., we find what we see as reasons to not “one another.”

I guess my understanding of Jesus' teachings is that His people were to be one body, one community, one in the Spirit, etc. He personally demonstrated community—being together—as He lived with His disciples daily with little time being alone. And the little time He did spend in solitude, He prayed to the Father as His disciples waited close by.

I wonder what He thinks as He looks upon us today. How does he see His church? How does He see us as we walk in on Sundays saying, "hello, how are you," sit there listening for an hour looking at the back of a bunch of heads, and then leave saying "see you next week?”  And have no contact with the brethren in between.  How does He see us when women go to a women's Sunday School class, their husbands go to a men's class, and the kids go to another—all with different teachers, including one with green hair?  Did He intend that?  Does He approve of our separation like that from each other?  I doubt it.  But that is just me…and what do I know?  I just know that we sure have a lot of differences and disagreements now days which causes God’s people not to be together.  And that troubles me.

Gene Pool