Can't we all just get along?

A videotape of the March 3, 1991, arrest and beating of Rodney King in Los Angeles was on every news broadcast and television talk show in America.  The debate carried on for months.  Then in 1992 the trial of the police officers involved resulted in each officer being acquitted of the charges.  This set off the horrendous Los Angeles riots which were reminiscent of the civil rights riots of the 1960's.  In the midst of the news reports about the riots Rodney King was interviewed and his plea to all involved was, "Can't we all just get along?"

Isn't it a shame that people just don't seem to know how to get along with one another?  Unfortunately, the church is not immune to fighting and fussing.  The number of church splits, angry business meetings, members leaving in a huff . . . all these give evidence of the spirit that is found in many congregations.  The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans, the 12th chapter and 16th verse says, Live in harmony with one another.

Shouldn't the church be a place of tranquility and harmony?  Why wouldn't everyone get along?  The primary reason for disharmony in the church is that many members do not have a right relationship with God, and until we are right with Him we cannot be right with other people! 

Some church members have never had a true life-changing experience with Christ.  Just because you were baptized and became a church member does not mean that you had a genuine conversion experience.  I cannot begin to tell of the many people I have known through the years who came to realize that they were "lost" after decades of possessing a church membership.  Some had been caught up in an emotional moment, others "walked the aisle" because a friend was doing so, and still others had joined because they thought it was expected of them.  Whatever the reason, they had not accepted Christ as Savior and Lord, and thus, they were not in a right relationship with God.

A true conversion experience, however, is the first step in being "transformed" (see Romans 12:2) into a person who can live harmoniously with others.  The process can actually take years as it takes time to grow as a Christian to the point of surrendering our emotions as well as our wills to God.  Maintaining harmony, or being a "peacemaker" as described in Matthew 5:9, requires a person who has grown beyond having to have things their own way.  This person, by living humbly and lovingly, gains the trust and respect of others who will generally follow his lead simply because of who he is (a man of solid reputation).  Therefore, being a peacemaker doesn't mean that you are to be a milquetoast who is overrun by others, it simply means that you wisely lead by example and maintain a caring attitude toward everyone . . . including those who can be classified as "difficult."

Bottom line -- if we love others more than we love ourselves we will live in harmony with others.