Fred Phelps, the leader of a small congregation known for their controversial funeral-picketing activities, died last month. Ironically, the family announced there would be no funeral.
Let’s be honest, relationships are tough. Whether it’s your family or a friendship, every relationship takes time and effort in order to work. The same is true for the Church. It made up of people of different backgrounds, personalities and experiences. We each bring something unique to the table, and then we are commanded to love each other. How does that work? Won’t our differences cause arguments and division? They can, unless we all start from the same point – Jesus Christ.
In the book of First Peter in the Bible, the church is told to be of ‘one mind’. We are all supposed to lay aside our own thoughts and attitudes for the thoughts and attitudes of Jesus. How do we do this? As we read and study the Bible, our minds are transformed more and more. As we grow, we begin learning how to love, forgive, show compassion and have mercy. When we start with a desire to be like Christ, we end up united with our brothers and sisters who are doing the same. So today, if there is tension in a relationship, look to the Bible and begin loving like Jesus.
Life Lesson: Unity in church starts with each person submitting to God’s Word.
A number of the targets of Phelps’ picketing were quick to encourage others to forgive and put the past behind them. Pray that his church members read the same verses.