How to Show Grace in Disagreement

[How to Show Grace in Disagreement]( Current Teaching Series [The Awesome Power of Vision]( [Listen to Today's Broadcast]( [How to Show Grace in Disagreement]( By Rick Warren — 02/15/2022 [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Pinterest]( [Email]( “Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don't see things the way you do." Romans 14:1 (The Message) Unity is not uniformity. When God says he wants his followers to be united, it doesn’t mean he wants us all to be alike. If he had wanted that, he would have created us all the same! For unity’s sake, we must never let differences in the church divide us. We should celebrate those differences while staying focused on what matters most: learning to love each other as Christ has loved us and fulfilling God’s purposes for each of us in his church. But what about all those differences in church members who annoy you? How can you be unified with someone who irritates you to no end? “Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don’t see things the way you do. And don’t jump all over them every time they do or say something you don’t agree with—even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently” (Romans 14:1 The Message). In church—or anywhere—be quick to listen and slow to anger when you have a disagreement. Why? Because most people tend to look at how far a person has to go rather than recognizing how far they’ve already come. If you knew how much someone had already overcome in life, you’d probably be rejoicing with them instead of criticizing them for where they are now. When you have conflict with someone whose background you don’t know, don’t dismiss them or judge them for behavior that you don’t understand. Stop thinking, “What is wrong with this person?” Instead, ask, “What happened to them?” Someone’s behavior might be shaped by trauma or crisis. Hurt people hurt people. When you find someone who’s hurting other people, if you dig deep enough, you’ll find that they also have been hurt. The people that you think deserve your kindness the least are those who need the most massive doses of love. To achieve unity, offer empathy and compassion instead of judgement. When you affirm someone’s worth and the story God is writing through their life, you don’t just change that one person’s life. You can transform a whole community! [PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>]( Talk It Over - How do you tend to react when someone in your church has a different opinion than yours? - What characteristics did Jesus model when he faced conflict, even among those who were closest to him? - When you disagree with someone in your church, what can you say to show that you want to better understand them and their position? If you've never invited Christ into your life, you can pray this simple prayer today: "God, I realize I need you. I want to be born again. I confess I have sinned against you, and I ask that you forgive all my sins. Jesus, I receive you into my life as Lord and Savior. Today, I’m turning every part of my life over to you. I want to follow you and do what you tell me to do. And I want to see your vision, purpose, and plan for my life. Please accept me into your family. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen." If you’ve already accepted Christ into your life, then you can pray, "Father, help me to see life through the eyes of faith. I want to follow your vision for the things you want me to do. I’m going to trust you and expect great things from you as I step forward in faith to attempt great things for you. I’m committed to your plan for my life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen." If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at Rick@PastorRick.com and let me know. I’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus. The post [How to Show Grace in Disagreement]( appeared first on [Pastor Rick's Daily Hope](. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Pinterest]( [Email]( [Get Going Deeper with God: A Personal Renewal Retreat when you give a gift to support Daily Hope!]( How are you doing spiritually right now? Maybe it feels like you’re in a desert or just going through the motions. Maybe you’ve lost your joy. No matter how you feel, Pastor Rick wants to help you experience new life in your relationship with God. That’s why he created this brand-new resource called, Going Deeper with God: A Personal Renewal Retreat. Through this very special audio and workbook series, Pastor Rick will personally lead you on a journey to help you experience true spiritual renewal as God restores your joy, and refreshes, reinvigorates, and revives your spiritual life. [LEARN MORE]( [Complete Audio Series (Purchase)]( Includes 6 full-length messages from Pastor Rick's series The Awesome Power of Vision. [LEARN MORE]( [Series Summary]( Message 1: Seeing Your Future with Faith, Not Fear Message 2: When You Need a Fresh Start Message 3: Christ’s Vision: A Unified Family Message 4: My Part in Fulfilling Christ’s Vision Message 5: Maintaining Harmony In My Home, Small Group, and Church Message 6: What Seeds Will You Plant This Spring? [PLAY TODAY'S BROADCAST]( Pastor Rick Warren [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Linkedin]( Enjoy today's devotional? Listen to Pastor Rick’s daily audio teaching at [PastorRick.com]( Did someone forward this devotional to you? [Subscribe to Pastor Rick Warren's Daily Devotional.]( As the founding pastor of Saddleback Church with his wife Kay, Dr. Rick Warren leads a 30,000-member congregation in California with campuses in major cities around the world. As an author, his book [The Purpose Driven Life]( is one of the best-selling nonfiction books in publishing history. It has been translated into 74 languages and sold more than 50 million copies in all formats. His book [The Purpose Driven Church]( was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the century. Rick also founded [The PEACE Plan]( to address five global issues—spiritual emptiness, self-serving leadership, poverty, disease, and illiteracy—through the power of ordinary people in the local church. You can listen to Pastor Rick’s Daily Hope, his daily 25-minute audio teaching, and sign up for his free daily devotionals at [PastorRick.com](. © 2022 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link below. Sent to: {EMAIL} [Unsubscribe]( Pastor Rick's Daily Hope, 23182 Arroyo Vista, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688, United States