You Can Disagree Without Being Disagreeable

CURRENT TEACHING SERIES Building My Life on Values That Last

You Can Disagree Without Being Disagreeable By Rick Warren — Dec 4, 2015 “Each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one other.” (Romans 14:12-13a NIV) Many people, including Christians, think they only have to show respect for people with whom they agree. Nothing could be further from the truth. As a believer in today’s world, there are many activities in our society that I abhor and actions with which I clearly disagree. But I still show people respect — even if I know their behavior is wrong. Why? First, I remember that ultimately every individual will be accountable to God for their own attitudes, actions, and behaviors. One day God will settle the score. Each of us will have to give an account for our behavior. Second, I’m not God. The people with whom I disagree aren’t accountable to me. They are accountable to God. It is not my job to be a policeman, running around trying to make everyone who is not a believer act like they are believers. In fact, the Bible says people can’t act the way God wants them to act until they have a relationship with him. The Bible says, “Each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another” (Romans 14:12-13a NIV). It isn’t judgmental to tell the truth to people. If someone is doing something the Bible says is wrong, it’s not being judgmental to tell that person it’s wrong. That’s just telling people the truth. It is judgmental to take the truth and beat people over the head with it and then enjoy it and feel morally superior because of it. You can disagree with someone without being disagreeable. Honestly, some of the rudest people I’ve ever met were over-zealous Christians who are so committed to the truth that they don’t really care about people. You can be right about an issue, but if you’re rude about it, you’re wrong. If you aren’t speaking the truth to people in love, you’re wrong. Jesus is watching to see how you treat the people he died for. Jesus died even for those with the most despicable lifestyle. PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over What makes it difficult to treat people with respect when you disagree with them? How does realizing that Jesus died for those who disagree with you change how you will interact with those people? Who is someone you’ve treated in a disagreeable fashion that you need to apologize to? Today’s Scripture “...The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7, NIV) SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS Seek Love Is there someone in your life who has wronged or offended you? Maybe it was intentional, or maybe they don’t even know they’ve hurt you. No matter what the circumstance, as believers, we are called to forgive. When we forgive, we seek love, and the Bible says that God is love. If we don’t forgive, we are turning in the opposite direction—away from God. Choosing forgiveness doesn’t excuse the other person’s behavior. It simply releases the debt they owe you so that God can release the debt you owe Him. Forgiveness opens the door so that you can be free. Choose freedom today by choosing forgiveness. Seek love and know that God is looking at your heart! A Prayer for Today “Father, today I seek love by choosing forgiveness. I open my heart to You today and ask You to heal my hurts. I look forward to the future You have for me. Help me to be a testimony of Your love and forgiveness to those around me today in Jesus’ name. Amen.”