Pastor's Desk
October 1 , 2006
IN VANCOUVER WE have the opportunity to interact with people from a rich diversity of cultures, languages, ethnic backgrounds and religions. Each of these different backgrounds represents a different way of doing life. People eat different foods, follow different traditions and hold different values. Parents from these diverse backgrounds raise their children as much as they can inline with their own family customs. But invariably when the children go to school they are exposed to other children who live life somewhat differently. As adults we also interface with people who have different ways of doing things at work and other places. In such an environment there is potential for misunderstanding and conflict, so there is much emphasis in our society on tolerance. We are encouraged to find ways to make compromises and live in peace with one another. For the most part it seems to work although we do hear of occasional “disturbances” of this peaceful arrangement in our multicultural city.
In the church we also have people from different cultural backgrounds and even from different Christian traditions. What brings us together is our common love for the Lord Jesus Christ, our common faith in his death and resurrection and the same Holy Spirit who binds us together in peace (Ephesians 4:3). Even so, the way we give expression to our faith may differ from one person to the next. We may even think that the way we worship is better than the way other Christians worship. We may think that our particular emphasis on certain life-style issues is superior to those of our brother or sister in Christ. We may even despise them in our hearts. But God has called us to peace. It is fine to have our own convictions on non-essential issues but we must also allow freedom for others to hold and live by their convictions. As Augustine is often quoted as saying: “… in essentials, unity; in doubtful matters, liberty; in all things, charity.” This is more fully explained in Romans 14 in which the apostle Paul provides a very clear pathway to living peacefully in a diverse Christian community. The key to living in peace with each other is what Jesus has accomplished when he died on the cross. "For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility." (Ephesians 2:14)
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"Let us therefore make every effort to do
what leads to peace and to mutual edification."
(Romans 14:19)
This page was last updated on Friday, September 29, 2006