By Pastor Mike McVey
First United Methodist Church, Fairfield
One day I was having a discussion with my brother in regards to a certain topic. I don’t remember what that particular topic was, so obviously it was of grave importance! It was clear within this conversation that we were on opposite ends of an issue. Our solution was found in the phrase, “agree to disagree.” Have you ever heard of it? A simple, once commonly used, phrase that denoted the possibility that two people could disagree about something and still remain connected as friends or family.
It seems today that we have adopted the opposite saying, we seem to embrace the slogan, “disagree to agree.” There is almost a sense of arrogant pride in one’s inability to agree with another. We as a people seem to have become so obsessed with being “right’’ that we enclose ourselves in a self-righteous cloak of assurance and refuse to acknowledge the viewpoint of another. We glorify winning the argument as opposed to expanding our viewpoints, or seeing the other person’s view with respect. The results become the inability to engage in reasonable conversation, healing dialog, and reach lasting compromise.
You can find “disagreeing to agree” across political lines, across religious lines, across education lines, and across cultural lines. Everybody wants to be right, and nobody can even stomach the idea of being wrong. Which leads me to the question, if a person is right all the time, how do they grow or learn more about those around them?
There is a core foundation within Christianity that crosses all denominational lines. It is something that ALL Christians must acknowledge and accept if they are to truly embrace Jesus. This concept is one that the world finds very hard to swallow and it is why Christianity isn’t all that popular to many. Are you ready to hear what it is?
Each and every person is WRONG about something.
I know, it’s shocking isn’t it? But another word for wrong is the word sin. A sin is anything that takes our attention and focus away from God or God’s plan. Part of being a Christian is admitting that we are all sinners and in need of grace and salvation. Which means one must admit that they are wrong about something!
Refusal to agree or find compromise with others is not a Christian quality. It is an ignorant and arrogant quality that embraces the sin of pride. In the Gospel of John, chapter 13, Jesus makes this shocking proclamation, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” What’s fascinating about this is that Jesus said people will know that one is a Christian by the overwhelming love they show others. Not about how right they are or how many arguments they have won. They will know we are christians by our love.
Perhaps it is time that we as Christian reject the golden idol of “rightness” or “self-righteousness” and instead seek the humble life of Jesus of Nazareth. Our task is not to be right, but to admit that we are flawed and in need of grace. Once we have accomplished that task our next job is to share that Gospel of good news to all people.
There is only one thing I am absolutely certain of in this world and am assured of its rightness. I am a great sinner and Christ is the great redeemer.
In all other things, if you or I should find a topic that we simply cannot see eye to eye, let’s break bread together, pray together and “agree to disagree.”
Your fellow servant of the Gospel,
Pastor Mike McVey
