But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. (1 Corinthians 12:18)
Read: Esther 4:1-7:10, 1 Corinthians 12:1-26, Psalm 36:1-12, Proverbs 21:21-22
Relate: I love to read. I love to write. I enjoy preaching and teaching. I get really passionate about issues of social justice. If you want to get me riled up, feel free to start me talking about modern slavery or the need for the West to open up their doors wider for refugees. I am a sports fan. Since coming to Turkey I have narrowed my interests to Syracuse Basketball, the Yankees, NY Red Bull and Real Madrid for football. (Don’t call that American joke of a sport football around me) I wear a lot of Besiktas and will cheer for them but I can’t really call myself a true fan. I love worship music but most people do not love listening to me sing it (and I am not gifted on any instruments). I love hiking, camping, mountain climbing, and stuff like that but I need to live in the city. I tried country living and couldn’t move back into civilization quick enough. These are some of the things that make me tick.
When it comes to movies, I really can’t stand comedies or chic flicks. “Reality” shows, shopping, and anything to do with fashion trends will only make me yawn. Neither people driving around in circles really fast or old men hitting tiny white balls into little holes qualify as sports. While on the subject, no true sport should be played on ice. I have absolutely no interest in accumulating vast amounts of money. My definition of modern art is some people conning other people into paying exorbitant amount of money on something an eight year old could create while throwing a temper tantrum. These are some of the things I just don’t get.
React: I am guessing that most of you would gladly switch out some of the things on my “likes” or “dislikes” list with preferences of your own. I would even venture to say that one or two of you might even come close to completely switching one list with the other. There’s got to be someone out there who loves their hockey and their pottery barn catalogs. They can’t stand the city and have dumped millions into their home in the distant suburbs Podunkville, Kentucky. It doesn’t matter. We belong together as a family. God loves you with all your quirks and quibbles just as much as He loves me with my excellent and refined tastes. He might even love you Red Sox fans a little more since extra grace is required to do so. His body, His church is made up of all different parts. We all have different passions, talents, and interests and we have them for a reason. He has given them for us to use for His glory.
The problems come when I begin to think that everybody in the church should have the same passions that I have. I am here with my love of history and theology thinking that everybody should have a good grasp on the theological differences between Irenaeus, Ignatius, and Athanasius. The person next to me is wondering, “Are those places Paul visited during his missionary journeys? The Bible is the only book we need to read.” The American church is debating singing more hymns vs modern songs while my Muslim convert still can’t get over the fact we sing at all in church. “This is a place for prayer, not a disco. By the way, why are your shoes still on?” We have all been given passions and talents for a reason and we need to be using them for the glory of God. We should not be using them to beat each other over the head with them. Our variety, our differences, is what makes the body so beautiful. We need to learn to work through our differences while still living in unity.
Respond:
Dear God,
Help me to distinguish between my personal preferences and Your universal purposes. I know there are certain things that should be part of every Christian’s DNA. There are other things that You have gifted in some but not others. Give me the wisdom to recognize the difference and be willing to give ground on the latter while holding tightly to the former. Help me to use and foster my gifts, but even more help me to draw out the gifts hidden in others. Above all, help me to walk in love and unity with all who are a part of Your Body.
Amen
THE RIVER WALK 
As a Red Sox fan I got a chuckle when I reach that part of your blog. As for the rest of it it’s very well written and gives us all reasons to consider how we look at the likes and dislikes of other people.
You’re so right that often we judge people by their likes and dislikes and get into arguments over them. And that’s not really worth our time. We would be far more better off spending our time encouraging and lifting each other up.
Thanks for your insightful words.
Beautiful truth couched in hysterical snarkiness. So wonderfully true–and yet so hard to live out because we are all so prone to judge. Thanks for this, BJ.
Excellent post.
Well written….love it
“It’s not a disco” LOL 🙂
You mentioned your Muslim Background Believer questioning. We should be sensitive to their questions and their notes of how we worship in love knowing that they are coming from a legalistic background. There needs to be more education on how to not become a stumbling block to these new believers in Christ and that is how we disciple. I like the fact that you even mentioned it! We all seem to be do “pc” that we walk on eggshells regarding these issues. Keep writing, keep thinking, keep us joining you on this journey we are all on and showing us areas we can be more sensitive.
All are part of the same Source as we all are connected by that Supreme power name is our mind creation….. He didn’t say he is God we people call him so…. About you, as you are a beautiful Soul yourself see others same.. Don’t try to create a difference…. The same vibes will attract you and those with different vibes will go far…. So why are You praying Lord to tell you who is who… Just accept all as we all are one from the Whole…
Be blessed
NAMASTE
I am sorry, but this is simply not true. There is a distinction between who is a part of the family of God and who is not. God Himself makes this very clear over and over again in His Word. Here are just a few examples:
But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:13)
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. (Romans 8:14,17)
See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love his brother does not belong to God. (1 John 3:1,10)
For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. (Galatians 3:26-27)
Did God say those words, did you hear it or anyone you know hear them. These are words which have been written by human from their perspectiveness.
Reblogged this on maryhallrayford.
Reblogged this on Handicap and commented:
We may have our different likes, but that is how we work together so well. We all work together when we have to. Yeah, we can work apart when we have to as one person in Christ when it comes to making decisions. Yes, I know that is hard to do but that’s what we are going to have to do to make our world survive. We are going to have to let religion back into government to make it survive. We are going to let public schools have religion so our kids know how to work together as one group, not get into a fight about every darn thing because they don’t’ know what is right and what is wrong. This is just my thoughts, and nobody has to agree with me. But usually when you put God involved in something, it works out for the greater good of every person involved and that is what I am trying to get across. Only I got on my soap box, sorry about that. Your Brother in Christ, Jon.
My problem too. I think everyone should share my passions – including hating abortion. This makes me open to hurt and discouragement when my Pro-life book gets shot down or when folks don’t take the Life Chain as seriously as I do…sometimes it even leads to the temptation to judge others. When that happens, I praise Jesus for the Holy Spirit and His wisdom…and His forgiveness.
This is an issue that is so hard for me to find the right balance of passion and compassion on. Like you said, praise Jesus for the Holy Spirit and His wisdom and forgiveness!
Beautifully written with a message that allows you to think and ponder where you fall into. Perhaps even evoke positive change. ❤️
My definition of modern art is some people conning other people into paying exorbitant amount of money on something an eight year old could create while throwing a temper tantrum.
Made me laugh so hard.. 😂 my opinion exactly… But I think your the point of us being unique yet united is extremely important, especially when brothers and sisters in Christ fight over unimportant things. God bless you, BJ.
Reblogged this on ChristianBlessings and commented:
Uniquely different, He made us that way. So we must learn to live in unity despite our diversities in His love, not our own which loves only the lovely.