Old Friends, New Opinions, and a Really Cheesy Waterpark

Several weeks ago I had a realization that changed the way I had been thinking about a group of people for a long period of time. I was not only shocked to feel the emotions I felt, but also overwhelmed by what I can only describe as God superseding my opinions and reversing them altogether.

My youngest brother decided this year that he wanted to try to play football. It was interesting to see the difference between football parents and coaches and the soccer crowd that he had been around most of his life. It was quite the culture shock. There was a lot more intensity, louder voices, and a stronger desire to win, not just try hard.

After one of the early practices the head coach of the team informed everyone present that one of the next week’s practices was going to be moved because he was getting baptized that evening. He also invited anyone who wanted to attend. It was to be held at a local water park that had already been paid for. My family thought this was a good way to start the season/get to know/show our encouragement for baptism and decided to go.

Before we left to head toward the park, we called the coach to let him know that when the Clements family converges, we are a sizeable group. He said that it was no problem, that his church had rented the whole park out, and that we should just say that we were with their group.

It turns out that the church he was referring to was one that I was quite familiar with. They were a group that had split off from my church for reasons of methodology more than theology. Suffice it to say, they were a group that for quite some time I had thought less than wonderful things about. I can’t say now if my feelings were a result of the way in which our churches parted ways, their methods, or something else. What I do know now is that my feelings were sinful.

On the way to the water park that evening I really felt God working on my heart. By the time we arrived I found that for some strange reason I was really looking forward to spending time with these people whom I had been very close to for a very long time.

After hanging out for a while and being very friendly with everyone I saw, it was time for the baptisms. There were eight people baptized that evening. While I was standing there God finished the work in me that He had begun on my way there. I had heard their Pastor preach many times. He had never altered the gospel and had nothing less than a heart for God. I realized that by sinfully holding onto a grudge I had missed the fact that we were all on the same team, that I was in a sense jealous of the great things God was doing in their church, and that I should be nothing less than thrilled over the fact that I had eight new family members in the body of Christ!

Being set free from the wrong feelings I had so loved to hold on to was one of the most relieving feelings I had felt in a long time. To often we (the church) see different reasons to divide ourselves over less than significant matters of doctrine, methodology, or opinion, and we are missing out on a great blessing. We can be rejoicing and boasting in our God for the great things He is doing in other church bodies, even in our own city. We must remove our sense of pride, selfishness, or even jealousy that is hindering us.

It is my prayer that the body of Christ would be unified for His glory, and that if I am keeping that from happening that God will send someone to put me in my place that His name may be made great in this city, in this country, and all across the world!