139: Accept one another | Romans 15:7

Christians can be so cruel to other Christians. What message does this send to the world? The Bible is clear: Accept each other. In Christian circles, the word "acceptance" carries a lot of baggage and drama. One side of Christianity wants to be all inclusive and accepting no matter what. The other side wants to stand firm, believing that acceptance leads to a watered down faith. This raises a lot of questions. Are we talking about acceptance of the Church with the "world" or acceptance within the church? For the first issue, we will have to tackle that another day. It's not an easy conversation. But for the second, acceptance within the church, it's pretty straight forward. Let me be more clear: The Bible is pretty straight forward on the topic. For one, there are no "sides" of Christianity. Not in God's eyes. In Romans 15, Paul says we are all of one mind and one voice. He continues with our One Verse for today in Romans 15:7. "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." We don't have to agree with each other. We won't. But why can't we disagree on topics, but still be accepting of each other as followers of Jesus? Why is this so hard? Are we so ignorant as to think that every single Christian is going to vote Republican? Or Democrat? Do we truly think every Christian should read and understand the Bible the exact same way? Our country couldn't even come to a consensus on a blue or yellow dress last year! Maybe we can expand our faith. Maybe we can stick to our beliefs and yet stand next to those who view life and the Bible differently. I don't know all of the answers. But I know that God-through Paul-is clear. We are one mind, one voice, and we need to accept each other. It couldn't be more clear. About One Verse One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Consistency trumps intensity. When it comes to working out, eating healthy, or managing our finances, consistency always trumps intensity. We reach our major life goals through small, purposeful steps taken daily. The same is true in our spiritual lives. I truly believe you will grow closer to God by spending just 5 minutes a day with Him versus cramming in an hour once a month. The One Verse Devotional is here to help take away the barriers of spending time with God. Now, during your workout, drive to work, or even shopping for groceries, you can invest in your spiritual life. http://phosphorusproject.com/