NEEDS OF THE REAL WORLD:

Different Yet Complementary
By Candice Johnson

Dealing with strife and discord among Christians has at times sent me into deep discouragement. Dealing with non-harmonious relationships in the church seems like it should not even be an issue. After all, the Scriptures instruct us to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 22:39). But the reality is, due to the God-given uniqueness of each persons’ ideas and personality, and especially the influence of the fallen nature, relationships can and do develop into discord even among Christians.

It seems that discord comes in relationships when we don’t like the way someone is doing something. That can lead to words being said, feelings being hurt, and sides being taken. Unfortunately, this does happen often among Christians. Part of the problem is our sinful nature and part of the problem is a misunderstanding of harmony.

The term harmony has its roots deep in the realm of music. Considering how harmony is accomplished in music can lead to a clearer understanding of how harmony can be accomplished in relationships.

One essential truth about harmony in music is that harmony is a mixture; a mixture of different elements working together to create a beautiful sound. Simply stated, harmony is achieved when two or more notes, located on different lines or different spaces, blend together to create a pleasing sound. The notes are different, yet complementary; separate, yet united. Thus we have a beautiful piece of music

One essential truth about harmony in relationships is that this harmony, too, is the result of different people working together toward a common purpose. Though a variety of individuals may be involved in different aspects of service, to be harmonious, their purpose needs to be the same. Among Christian, that common purpose needs to be exalting Christ.

When exalting Christ is the primary goal for life and service, then the various methods for achieving that goal take on less significance. To put it simply, does it matter if someone sings songs, or writes novels, or washes dishes or teaches Sunday school, or cleans restrooms, or sells Mary Kay, as long as it is done to exalt Christ? The Apostle Paul addresses the issue of disharmony in his letter to the Philippians 1:15-18 when he writes in chapter one: Some to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love,…the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me Paul distress….What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed.

As pastors’ wives, we can’t just sit on the fringe when there’s disharmony in the church, but we also need to tread gently. We need to ask God to reveal to us the answers to a couple of very pointed questions:

1. Am I doing something to cause disharmony in the church? If so pray

for God’s guidance in how to correct that
2. Is my husband doing something to cause disharmony in the church/ If

so, pray that God would reveal this to him and God would work a

healing in the church.
3. Is the disharmony caused by fractions in the church? If so, pray that

God would reveal ways to restore harmony.