Love is the thing this time, I'm sure...
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Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers,
be compassionate and humble. (I Peter 3:8, NIV)
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I think I may be the only person I know who is on speaking terms with everyone I can think of.
Seriously, have you ever had such a falling out with someone that you literally do not speak with them
anymore? I've had a couple of spats with friends in my days, but I don't think I've ever had that kind
of scorched earth in my wake. And to be perfectly honest, I can't think of a single thing someone could
do that would necessitate no longer speaking to someone.
That makes me wonder why I know so many people who aren't on speaking terms with other people. Why is
that, exactly? How can people be contented to let that be the case? Can we not forgive? Can we not
reconcile?
Are we so prideful that we decide to not speak to someone to make a point? To make them feel the lack
of our presence in their lives? Are we so unable to control ourselves when we talk to some people that
we need to sever those relationships entirely?
I'm kind of trying to make a point, I admit. There are of course some situations where the social
situation is, shall we say, delicate. Sometimes, both friends agree that further contact would probably
be destructive to those around them and to each other. That is an unfortunate fact, but that's not
really what I'm getting at anyway. I'm talking about people who get in such a big
fight / misunderstanding / spat that they simply decide that it's not worth the trouble to talk to
each other anymore.
I have heard that partaking in the Lord's Supper has two requirements. First of all,
one needs to be a member of the Body of Christ. Secondly, one needs to be at peace with
one's brother (or sister, as the case may be). How can any of us let a grudge stand?
Not that we need to like everybody, but we DO need to love everybody. We do need to treat each
other like people, and not let feuds and grudges break our fellowship.
--F. Nate Owens
