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Having Fire Without Burning Each Other
Posted by
Bob Fetherlin
,
10 April 2007
·
900 views
Earlier this week I was in Seoul, South Korea where I witnessed fire burning in the hearts of Korean believers in a partner church there. They were incredibly passionate about Christ and his mission. It was greatly encouraging to be with Jesus-followers who were so on fire for him!
Regardless of our ethnic or national origin, the danger when we have this kind of fire in us is that we end up intentionally, or more often unintentionally, burning each other. In our passion, we end up being insensitive to others. We can press our agenda and our way of doing things in the work of the kingdom so strongly that we inflict pain on other Christ-followers. They get burned.
How do have fire burning brightly in our hearts for Christ and his mission without burning each other? We put into practice 1 Corinthians 13:4-5: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs." When we live out this kind of love for one another in the body of Christ, we don't burn others.
Dr. A.B. Simpson wrote in 1900, "God's methods in matters of outward form are flexible enough to allow for exceptions and adjustments." This counsel helps us have fire without burning each other.
Augustine also offers wise counsel: "Unity in things essential, liberty in things non-essential, and charity in all things."
As we engage in a variety of partnerships to advance the cause of Christ, including international ones, we'll need to remember the 1 Corinthians 13 words of Paul, the exhortation of Dr. Simpson, and the wisdom of Augustine. They can help us have differing opinions without pressing our views aggressively in a controversial spirit. Let's stoke the fire of passion for Jesus without burning each other!
Regardless of our ethnic or national origin, the danger when we have this kind of fire in us is that we end up intentionally, or more often unintentionally, burning each other. In our passion, we end up being insensitive to others. We can press our agenda and our way of doing things in the work of the kingdom so strongly that we inflict pain on other Christ-followers. They get burned.
How do have fire burning brightly in our hearts for Christ and his mission without burning each other? We put into practice 1 Corinthians 13:4-5: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs." When we live out this kind of love for one another in the body of Christ, we don't burn others.
Dr. A.B. Simpson wrote in 1900, "God's methods in matters of outward form are flexible enough to allow for exceptions and adjustments." This counsel helps us have fire without burning each other.
Augustine also offers wise counsel: "Unity in things essential, liberty in things non-essential, and charity in all things."
As we engage in a variety of partnerships to advance the cause of Christ, including international ones, we'll need to remember the 1 Corinthians 13 words of Paul, the exhortation of Dr. Simpson, and the wisdom of Augustine. They can help us have differing opinions without pressing our views aggressively in a controversial spirit. Let's stoke the fire of passion for Jesus without burning each other!
