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Q. Why is majoring on disagreements with non-Christians unfruitful?

A. Our witness often goes something like this: "Let me tell you pagans that you are a commie, pinko, family-destroying, pornography-promoting, baby-killing bunch of weirdos. Now let me tell you about the love of Christ." When we demonize those around us in our society, they are repelled by our harshness. No wonder they don't want our gospel. It hasn't been oiled with kindness.

How about disagreements with other Christians?

Its so easy to "demonize" other Christians with whom we disagree. We need to make kindness the badge of our living, our discussions, and our arguments.

I do a television program on the Odyssey Network with Tony Campolo called Hashing It Out. It is a sort of Christian Crossfire, and on the program, Tony and I disagree on everything but Jesus. Tony is a political liberal and a Democrat. I am a political conservative and a Republican.

Both of us have busy schedules and have no business (from a scheduling standpoint) doing the television program. Do you know why we do it? We do it because both of us have a major concern with the ways Christians "demonize" other Christians. We wanted to demonstrate how Christians can disagree profoundly and still love one another.

Evidently our goal has been achieved. The comment we get most often on the program goes like this: "You guys really do love each other, don't you?"

It shows.

Steve Brown is a broadcast speaker and seminary professor.

Adapted from Follow the Wind (Baker, 1999) by permission.

Prayer for the Week

Lord, turn my critical eyes inward so I may grow in grace. Transform my snap judgments of other Christians into prayer, understanding, and service.

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