The Rock Church has been serving Utah for over 25 years and we are so excited for this year’s Mission To The City (MTTC) July 27 to Aug 4. It promises to be our biggest one ever! There are serving opportunities for everyone (families included). Please encourage your friends and family (and YOU) to sign-up now ( www.trc.life/mttc ).
Additionally, this year’s MTTC will culminate in an epic, three-day/weekend celebration of The Rock Church’s 25-Year Anniversary of being in Utah. You won’t want to miss any part of this incredible week of serving and celebrating. Please contact Nate Beldock with questions (flyguy820@cox.net).
I recently taught at church about how to treat fellow believers when we disagree politically. Christians who differ on such issues should always do so with a spirit of kindness, graciousness, and understanding. Indeed, this spirit honors King Jesus.
I know a little bit about conflict. Like everyone else, I’ve had my fair share of personal skirmishes with my wife, kids, family, co-workers, teammates, etc. Additionally, for the past 33 years, I have been called in to help hundreds of other people resolve their broken relationships. In fact, just this past week, I had the opportunity to help resolve a dispute between two dear friends. Fortunately, humility carried the day, and all was well.
My top “pro tip” for resolving conflict? Stop it before it starts. Without a doubt, the best way to do that is to be preemptive and wise in your actions, thoughts, and words. Simply put, don’t put yourself in a situation that will ultimately lead to conflict.
But what do we do when we disagree politically with someone in our church? Unfortunately, many people resort to anger or mean social media posts. Along with that, they become passive-aggressive or simply avoid each other altogether. There is undoubtedly a better way for Christians. When we disagree, we should always prioritize our relationship over politics.
What’s Your Attitude?
The Bible absolutely tells us what to do. Our attitude toward Christians who don’t believe the way we do in non-essential issues (like politics) should be loving, kind, and patient. Equally important, it should be gentle, grace-filled, and long-suffering. Does this come near to describing your political social media posts?
God’s Word calls Christians to a higher standard. He instructs us in Ephesians 4:29 (NIV84): “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
It’s never okay to slander or judge your fellow brothers or sisters because of differing political beliefs. So rather than flame them online, why not simply be kind and listen? At the same time, humbly acknowledge that maybe you don’t have ultimate, complete, and supreme knowledge of all things political. In fact, you could be … wrong.
Are you tempted to say (or post) something mean or nasty (regarding your political convictions)? Before you do, remember this wise advice: “If you can’t be kind, be quiet.”
I don’t know about you, but I need reminding often. I forget things so quickly. They go in one ear and out the other. Do you struggle with that? I think we certainly all do in our human nature. And I believe the writers of the New Testament knew that as well. Paul and Peter both wrote to tell the early Church to recall God’s truths. (2 Peter 1:12-13, Romans 15:15)
The disciples also knew they needed reminding. They spent three years physically walking with Jesus, and it’s clear they always required a lot of reminders from our Lord. They knew what Jesus had taught them; they could indeed repeat it. However, many times throughout their days, He reminded them. It’s almost like they needed a good shake to recall His teachings.
Pastor Bill has shared this quote from Samuel Johnson several times, and I think it applies. “People need to be reminded more often than they need to be instructed.”
Amen to that. If you have kids, you know this is true.
Many things during our days (especially our smartphones) distract us from the truth, and we naturally think about other things.
Reminders in Life
Peter and Paul encouraged their readers that we all need reminders.
Reminders of God’s goodness are critical when life is hard. We also need reminders of God’s grace and forgiveness when we stumble. Equally important, we need reminders of His holiness when we are sinful idiots.
We certainly need reminders of God’s provision when finances are tight. Without a doubt, we need a reminder of God’s faithfulness when we are sinned against. And surely, we need a reminder of His peace when anxious.
We absolutely need reminders of God’s closeness when we are lonely. At the same time, we need reminders of God’s care when we grieve and God’s promises when we doubt.
Ways to Recall His Goodness
Simply put, we must recall who God is and what He has done.
So, how do we do that? How do we remind ourselves? This isn’t an exhaustive list, but these are some ways to recall God’s truth.
We can pray, cry out, and commune with the Holy Spirit. As a result, it reminds us that we can (and should) “approach the Throne of Grace with confidence” (as Hebrews 4 says).
Ephesians 1:15-21 is a set of verses that really encourages me. We glimpse Paul’s heart and his thankfulness for the church in Ephesus! He speaks with gratitude and hope. On top of that, he deeply desires the saints to continue their spiritual growth.
First, Paul starts by expressing his gratitude for the Ephesians’ faith in Jesus. At the same time, he also expresses thanks for their love for the saints.
Many factors contribute to messing up a person’s life. Lack of self-control is a significant one. You might be on top of your finances and then wreck them by buying things you don’t need. Not to mention, you could excel at controlling your temper until something gets under your skin and you snap. Without a doubt, self-control is an essential and crucial characteristic of a Christian.
Put very simply, having self-control is sort of like driving a car. If you let go of the wheel, there’s a good chance you will run into another vehicle (or possibly off a bridge). But holding onto the wheel gives you the ability to drive defensively. Along with that, holding the wheel allows you to reach your destination. Paul certainly drove this point home (pardon the pun) when he wrote to Titus; he told him to teach everyone self-control. In fact, his instruction wasn’t just for pastors. It was for everyone who calls themselves a Christian. Indeed, he wrote about it five times in both chapters one and two.
In Titus 2:11-12, Paul wrote, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age..”
The Greek word Paul used is sóphrón, which means “curbing one’s desires and impulses, self-controlled, temperate.” We also see it translated as “sensible” and “discrete.”
In Your Life
What does this look like in your life? Think about the area of social media. It’s obviously great for staying connected, but it can too easily eat up hours of your day. Self-control in this area might mean limiting your screen time. Then, you’ll have enough time for prayer, family, and rest. It’s all about balancing your digital life with your spiritual and physical well-being.
Along with social media, self-control is also critical at work. Maybe a co-worker gets on your nerves. Instead of snapping back, self-control means responding with patience and kindness. This keeps the peace and shows Christ’s love in action.
What about self-control in the area of your entertainment? Is it difficult for you to balance video games, music, food, or alcohol? Consequently, do your impulses take over?
Make Right Choices
Paul’s message in Titus isn’t just about avoiding bad behavior; it’s also about building good habits. Think about it like training for a marathon. You don’t just avoid eating unhealthy food and expect to see results simply because you signed up. You put in the time and reps to get the necessary miles, even when it’s hard. By practicing self-control, we create a life that reflects God’s grace and makes choices that bring us closer to Him.
Self-control is about steering our lives in a way that honors God. Simply stated, it’s saying no to what pulls us away from Him and yes to what draws us closer. Just like a driver uses a map to reach their destination, we use self-control. God’s grace navigates our lives.
So next time you face a challenge that tests your self-control, remember Paul’s words in Titus. Let God’s grace always be your guide. It will surely help you make choices that shine with His love and wisdom.
