ACTS 23: Disagree well
So here we are on the final stretch of this journey through the Book of Acts – it’s certainly quite a ride!
We continue to read a chapter a day and I’ll provide a link to the chapter in the NIV(UK) version, but you can of course read the chapter in whatever version you like. I’ve been sharing some short reflections, but the important part is the last part: ACTION.
Just a week of these challenges left – I wonder what challenges are in store for us!
READ: Acts 23
REFLECTION: Paul has really got under the skin of the ‘good’ Jews, hasn’t he? The Sanhedrin the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the high priest – they’re all arguing amongst themselves about the truth of what he’s saying and are so vehement that things become violent. And then there’s this hunger strike – a refusal to eat or drink by 40 Jews until Paul is dead. Extreme measures!
And yet the commander can see no reason to judge Paul. From the outside, this argument does not seem convincing at all. He can’t see what they’re all arguing about. All he can see is the violence and the threats and the hatred towards Paul. This is the witness of the Sanhedrin. And as Paul says, what kind of witness is this, to be judging Paul with words and yet to be breaking the law with their actions? Where is the love in that?
I wonder if this is what people outside the church see when they look at the church today. Petty divisions, people hurting each other in their desire to stand up for what is right, judging and exclusion and condemnation, broken relationships…Where is the love in that?
Someone in my church uses the phrase ‘we need to learn to disagree well’. It’s true. We will disagree. Just look at Paul and the other early followers of the Way and the disagreements they had. We’re all working out what it is to be a follower of Jesus for ourselves and we are not always going to agree. It’s how we disagree that matters. It’s about love and respect and grace. It’s about staying calm, waiting for the right opportunity to speak. It’s about knowing God is with us and will guide us and give us courage when we need it, just like he promised Paul.
The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, ‘Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.’
ACTION: Disagree well
If you’re anything like me, the chances are you will disagree with someone today. Maybe more than once.
Disagreements are inevitable. I’m not suggesting that you avoid them all together.
This is about learning to disagree well. Disagree without using sarcasm, without undermining, without manipulating, without violence. Disagree with respect and grace and love and gentleness. It’s going to take some practice. I doubt you’ll nail it in one day.
But for this one day, reflect on your disagreements. Notice how you conduct them and see if you can make any changes.
