If you follow the news at all, or if you are on social media at all, you have certainly seen some nasty treatment of and language toward those who hold differing views from one another. This is certainly evident in political discussions between left and right. It is also evident in church matters, family matters, local government matters, even, (dare I mention it?) sewer district matters. Sometimes I think it is worse than it used to be, and continuing to get worse, but then I also recall that our nation went to war and killed each other on our own soil over a differing view, so maybe its not even as bad as it has been at times in the past.
Let me propose to you that it is okay to be friends with people who have different views. It is even good to be friends with people who have different views. And it does not have to be a constant point of contention – we can find common ground, respect and love each other in spite of not agreeing. If fact, the Bible commands us to work toward peaceful relationships with each other (see Romans 12:18, Hebrews 12:14, Ephesians 4:32, Matthew 5:9).
One good way to do this is to recognize that much of the time, we actually have the same end goal and just differ in how to get there. For example, take the hot topic of gun control. Both sides of the issue want our nation to be a safe place; they just differ on how to get there.
How about affordable health care? We all want that, right? But there are different ideas on how to get there.
And even our local hot topic of a centralized sewer treatment system for Seeley Lake – no one in their right mind wants to see our beautiful community contaminated by anything, and no one in their right mind wants to see anyone suffer hardship due to an increased financial burden, and this means that even though we may have strong opinions on how to solve this issue (or even on whether or not an issue exists to solve), we do at least have many of the same goals in common.
Let me suggest a couple of practical ways to work toward peaceful relationships in spite of differing opinions:
1. Look for common ground to agree on, particularly common end goals. We often tend to focus on differences instead of focusing on areas of agreement.
2. When discussing or arguing, truly listen to the alternative viewpoints. Try to listen without concentrating on how you can refute or respond to what is being said.
3. Recognize that even if you don’t agree with another opinion, we all have a right to hold and defend our opinions.
4. And above all, show love to one another! “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19)
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