Back to: Equipped To Lead
Essential Practicals:
Disagree In Unity
Do you ever disagree with other leaders? Of course you do! And that is fine because there is nothing wrong with disagreement. There is much room for difference of opinion, style, and ideas in ministry.
God does not call us to absolute uniformity to each other, but instead to unity. Unity allows for differences and distinctions. Unity happens when you set aside the non-essential differences to maintain a loving relationship with others.
Ephesians 4:1-3, I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (NKJV)
How to handle disagreement is the real issue. We learn how not to handle it by looking at the example of Absalom. He brought division to the kingdom by standing at the entrance and disagreeing with his father to the people. In this way he undermined the authority of his father, and stole away the kingdom.
There are those in the church who follow Absalom’s example. They disagree in order to undermine, and draw people to themselves (Acts 20:30). That is evil, wicked, and wrong. You are free to disagree, but do not divide! Do not force people to choose sides. Do not undermine the authority that God has given.
If you disagree with those over you or around you in ministry, do so privately and with them individually. This kind of disagreement is good. Iron does sharpen iron. We challenge and exhort one another and there is safety in receiving counsel. Do not organize a revolt, intentionally or accidentally.
Consider the example of Paul and Barnabas in Acts 15:36-41. They had a sharp disagreement! However, they did not divide the church over it. They resolved it between themselves. There was room for them to go and do the work that God had put upon their own heart, in the way they felt led. They did not involve others, or force people to choose sides.
You will disagree over certain things, and that is fine. Do not be an Absalom and undermine authority or divide the body.