This article is part of the 7 Tips series.A Common Struggle
What do you do with “those” people in your church—the ones who drive you crazy? Maybe it’s their vocal political opinions. Maybe it’s a personality that gets under your skin. Maybe it’s a particular lack of appreciation or sensitivity to your culture. Maybe it’s someone who’s critical of you in ways that seem wrongheaded. And then of course, there are the people who have hurt you.You know Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 12, that “the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable” (1 Cor. 12:22). But couldn’t some of “those” people be indispensable to someone else’s church body instead? What do you do with “those” people in your church?This struggle is no accident. Jesus said that all people will know we are his followers “if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). But if love at church were easy, how would that testify to the power of his saving work in our lives? As Jesus asks in Luke 6:32, “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you?” What does that say about the transforming power of Jesus in your life? And so Jesus says, “love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:35–36).If we’re to love our enemies, surely we’re to love “those” people at church. Even the ones who drive us crazy. So how can we do that? Consider these seven ideas, drawn from Paul’s teaching near the end of the book of Romans that, in many ways, functions as a “how to” guide to Jesus’s bracing, enemy-loving ethic of Luke 6.Jamie Dunlop is the author of Love the Ones Who Drive You Crazy: Eight Truths for Pursuing Unity in Your Church.Read More – Go to SourceNeed a prayer? Prayer RequestsPlease subscribe to our main Ministries daily scripture study – Koa Sinag MinistriesHave a Testimony of how God has changed or intervened in your life? Tell us your story! Give God Praise!Need some inspiration? Check out others Testimonies!Have you checked out our online store? We have a tonne of fascinating and colourful PDF books, toys, kids’ apparel, and much more, including complimentary PDFs for home schoolers!Author: Jamie Dunlop