This chapter STRESSES & brings home the IMPORTANCE of us getting along with people...especially in places where we fellowship & with other believers. It goes into discussion about ALL kinds of people: the ones that are hard for us to get along with, our church leaders, aggressive people, complacent people, gossipers...& offers guidance on how to handle ourselves & all these kinds of people.
If you are reading this book & my blog I surely don't want to beat you over the head with this, because the book itself can be intense...(in a good way). It is VERY IMPORTANT that you take something away with you from this chapter. We aren't expected to fix everything overnight, but it shows you & tells you areas where you can start.
I also want to say that the church is important to me....& so are all the relationships I have with other believers that are not members of my church. I KNOW the areas of FELLOWSHIP that are VERY SACRED to me & they don't just happen at church. PROTECT THEM. In my opinion those relationships of fellowship are like supernatural, GODly links between us here on earth to help minister to others... They aren't JUST friendships. They have a deeper meaning. This is why I also urge you to be mindful of your fellowship & don't get drawn into the acts of competing for who is closer to God, or knows more about God, or who sins less. "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. " Proverbs 27:17
I have learned (in such a short time) how important it is to just TALK to other believers about what is going on with you...spiritually. It helps you gain understanding & they may just know something you don't. INCLUDE each other as often as you can in whatever area of SPIRITUAL GROWTH you can find. It's important to spend time alone, but WE NEED EACH OTHER'S HELP!
Here are some of the key things I took away from this chapter: (Everything not from the Bible is Pastor Warren's words."
"You are commissioned by Jesus Christ to do everything possible to preserve the unity, protect the fellowship, and promote harmony in your church family & among all believers."
"We share the same salvation, the same life, and the same future..."
"...It was God who chose to give us different personalities, backgrounds, races, and preferences, so we should value and enjoy those differences, not merely tolerate them."
"Longing for the ideal while criticizing the real is evidence of immaturity. On the other hand, settling for the real without striving for the ideal is complacency. Maturity is living with the tension."
"...the church is made up of real sinners, including ourselves."
"Reconciliation, not running away, is the road to stronger character and deeper fellowship."
"God warns us over and over not to criticize, compare, or judge each other."
"Whenever I judge another believer, four things instantly happen: I lose fellowship with God, I expose my own pride and insecurity, I set myself up to be judged by God, and I harm the fellowship of the church."
"The Bible calls Satan 'the accuser of our brothers.'" Revelation 10:12
"Gossip is passing on information when you are neither part of the problem nor part of the solution."
"If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him - work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you have made a friend. If he won't listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again. If he still won't listen, tell the church." -Matthew 18:15-17a
"Jesus says to take it to the church. If the person still refuses to listen after that, you should treat that person like an unbeliever."
"...when people find a church where members genuinely love and care for each other, you would have to lock the doors to keep them away."
"Point to Ponder: It is my responsibility to protect the unity of my church."
Daily Bible Verse: "Let us concentrate on the things which make for harmony and the growth of our fellowship together." Romans 14:19 (PH)
Daily Question: "What am I personally doing to protect unity in my church family right now?
From my journal the first time of reading: I'm thinking the blog writing seems more and more like a good fit, for helping to bring more unity to the church, but it could also divide it. That is why I'll have to refer back to this chapter & open that up in discussion to the group.
What I think now: I need to explore what I journaled about, but I also recognize that there are some things that I do to protect the unity of my fellowship groups/relationships. I am OPEN & HONEST allowing spiritual growth among us. I am opening up discussion & helping my readers work through and think about the topics I write about.
Buck Up Baby & Ride With Jesus! Protect your posse! God Bless!!
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