{"id":1746,"date":"2014-07-29T08:00:40","date_gmt":"2014-07-29T12:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/trainchurchleaders.com\/practicum\/?p=1746"},"modified":"2025-05-22T17:16:48","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T21:16:48","slug":"differences-of-opinion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trainchurchleaders.com\/practicum\/differences-of-opinion.htm","title":{"rendered":"Differences of Opinion Don’t Have to Divide"},"content":{"rendered":"
To get the greatest benefit from this practicum, make sure you have read related training on the site. Click below to read about Body Life:<\/em><\/div>\n
Church Leadership Basics: God’s Design for the Church<\/a><\/center><\/div>\n

When bringing together a group of people to form a board, committee, or ministry team, you will have possible cultural differences, perhaps different church backgrounds, as well as varying personalities, philosophies, and intellect. Consequently, you will have differences of opinion.<\/p>\n

We can learn how to deal with these differences in ways that protect unity by looking at the way God initially formed the Church by bringing together two very different groups of people — Jews and Gentiles.<\/p>\n

Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands) – remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Jesus<\/p>\n

His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God\u2019s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. (Eph. 2:11-22)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

How to Protect Unity When Differences of Opinion Threaten to Divide<\/h2>\n

1) Perspective:<\/strong> Differences of opinion are not a bad thing. God would not have brought together these two groups described as having a “dividing wall of hostility” toward each other if unity out of diversity was not possible. God was fully aware of the issues that would arise in bringing together the Jews and Gentiles into one body. Consequently, we must embrace our differences and learn from each other to arrive at something better than if we functioned alone.<\/p>\n

2) Prayer:<\/strong> Unity, being at peace with one another, has a supernatural source — “For he himself is our peace.” Consequently, we must come together, by the blood of Christ, in prayer to the One who makes unity out of diversity possible. — “For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.” \u00a0Look together to the Lord in prayer to break through and destroy barriers.<\/p>\n

3) Peace:<\/strong> Peace, not necessarily agreement, is what we must work toward. Consequently, we would do well in our board, committee, or ministry team meetings to establish guidelines on how to express grievances or disagreements. Scripture provides qualities that need to be exhibited and some that need to be avoided to prevent letting differences of opinion lead to division.<\/p>\n

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (Eph. 4:2-3)<\/em><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord\u2019s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. (2 Tim. 2:23-24)<\/em><\/p>\n

4) Purpose:<\/strong> The purpose is not to get my way or promote my agenda. The purpose is to rise together “to become a holy temple in the Lord … a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” In other words, our purpose must be to get on page with God. Consequently, there may be times in a board, committee, or ministry team meeting that a decision must be tabled to make sure we are being led by the Spirit, not following our own ways.<\/p>\n

You’ll find this content in the Steering the Church Toward Body Life Leadership Guide<\/strong><\/a> which also looks at 24 other leadership tasks or responsibilities that need to be brought into alignment with God’s Design.<\/p>\n

For Resources on Body Life, Go to: Body Life Resources<\/a><\/p>\n

All Posts about Boards, Committees, Ministry Teams:<\/h3>