Be gentle

"And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient." (2 Timothy 2:24)

 

One of the plagues of modern-day Christendom is that many take up side issues and deem them all-important--a point of separation between them and other Christians. Health, foods, dress codes, and church constitutions are not unimportant, but Christians can hold different opinions and still be walking with God. Note the scriptural admonitions: "Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace and love; not with meats  or material things for those things shall pass away but the works of those that follow God shall give forth good fruit,  our number one concern should be doing the will of our Heavenly Father, not which denomination you attend , whether having long hair or an ear rings is right before the Lord God.  Let us be more concerned with the hearts of men and more concern with our brothers who are struggling daily on the front line with drugs, porn, alcohol, etc.  For those things have no place in the house of the Lord.  Let us not be like Job's friends but instead let us, abound in love and greet each other in love and deal with each in love. For if we do not dwell in love then how will the world truly know that we are the children of God. Let us deal with us with the same gentleness and grace and mercy that we expect and pray for with our Heavenly Father.