Dealing with Disagreements

One point: Jesus Shows us how to love people even when there is tension

[Scripture Reading]

1)For today’s message, let us turn to the book of Galatians 5:14-15. Let us all rise and recite the scripture together on the count of 3. 1, 2, 3.

Galatians 5:14–15 (NIV)

2)14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

Amen.

[Sermon]

3)Good morning PW. Let’s take this time to greet one another. Let’s turn to our friends and say, 4)“I know I’m right and I know your wrong, but I still love you.” Amen. No matter what kind of disagreements we might have with each other, we are called brothers and sisters in Christ to live in peace and harmony. But let’s think about the world we live in right now. We do not need to turn to the bible to know this truth. It is common sense. However, we do not have this peace because of our interests and selfishness. There is no harmony. Right now, there are wars between Russia and Ukraine. There is a war against Israel and Iran. Not only countries against countries, there are wars between tribes of South Sudan, and we do not need to look that far away; our motherland we are at ceasefire with North Korea, but it still is at war. The regime’s armies are still pointing guns at each other.

There are conflicts everywhere. Because of their own beliefs and truth, these countries fight. Killing one another to be the last one standing. But, if you all think about it, 5)“Is there anything in this world worth killing for?” In the 10 commandments, especially the 6th commandment, it says, 6)“Do not murder.” The first 5 books of the Old Testament, we call them the 7)Pentateuch, and these 5 books are, are the laws for the Jews. In these 5 books, there are 8)613 laws that the Jews have to keep, but what are these 10 commandments? They are representative of all of them. This means that these 10 need to be kept out of all the laws. So, do not murder is one of the key laws we must keep. So all these disagreements that lead to killings, according to God, it is just pure sin.

You guys might ask, “So what about it?” “Why are you talking about World Peace all of a sudden?” It is because these major conflicts start with little disagreements. When someone or a group of people thinks only of their own interests and forces those interests upon others, that is when disagreements happen. Let’s say I was given this 9)cake from my parents to share with my sister. My parents insisted that we share this cake equally. But because I wanted more, 10)I cut a piece that was bigger than my sisters and said, “Look, I am hungry, so I am going to eat more.” It might be true that I might be hungry, but because I wanted to show my interest and not think about my sister, I made that selfish choice to say, “I want more.” But what would any normal sister say? Unless the sister doesn’t like cake, she would say 11)no to my interests. This is a disagreement. Just thinking from your own point of view. Thinking about your own interests. It might be plausible and right on one end, but it might not be on the other. When this builds up to an extent where more and more people agree to certain interests, it results in a conflict that could get catastrophic. I know it sounds very out there, but we live with some disagreements—some disagreements that lead to a catastrophic end.

I used to play soccer a lot. In college, I would play at least twice a week. But when I got into Graduate school, after playing just one game with other pastors, I had to stop. I am a very competitive person. But I get more competitive when I play team sports. I am not only playing to win for myself; I knew that I needed to do my best so that our team could win. Being a team player and a reliable teammate was important to me. But one time, as I was playing with my classmates, I got overly competitive. I played as a central defensive midfielder and my role was to mark the striker of the game. But this striker was at another level. He wasn’t that tall or fast, but it seemed as though the ball was glued onto his boots. Once he got the ball there was no way for me to defend him. So what did I do? I did what any other competitive player would do: I fouled him. I put my legs in between his legs and trip him. I would push him when he would jump. I would consistently shoulder-check him when he didn’t have the ball. Whenever I would trip him over or foul him, I would smile and help him to get up. I didn’t talk trash, but my plays were trash. But in the middle of the second half, my opponent had enough of me. After fouling him, he got up, ran towards me, and started to pour his wrath on me. He didn’t hit me, but he was that close to hitting me. I, too, reacted the same way. Because the fight was brought to me, I screamed back at him. Our fight then got bigger, and my teammates and his teammates were arguing all over the ground.

This happens a lot when we play team sports. But guys, who was I playing soccer with? It was all 12)pastors. So, there was about to be a brawl between 22 pastors at a seminary. Before starting the game, we all gathered around and prayed to God, asking for his protection against injuries. But with that prayer, we were fighting for our own victory. We were playing to have fun, but because I showed my interest in winning by playing dirty, that brought disagreements, leading to a close brawl between 22 servants of God. After thinking about this incident, I thought through my actions and decided not to play anymore. Because I was covering the glory of God as I played soccer, on that day, I fought with many pastors and I learnt a huge lesson. One of the pastors that I fought was my wife's supervisor. One pastor, the pastor that I tripped and tackled, is now serving at a church in San Diego, where one of our Onnuri Church pastors is serving. So, we are still meeting one another, and we are not proud of what we did that day.

Not only me, but everyone here, we live in some conflict. We have disagreements in life. It could be the little things like choosing what to have for dinner with your family. Choosing what to watch on Netflix. It could be disagreements between friends. It could be disagreements between parents. Or we might be caught between disagreements. For example seeing your parents argue or fight. Seeing you friends fight because of an argument. Which means that we live in a life where there is consistant disagreements and conflicts with one another. But what does God want us to do in that situation? What should we do when we have a disagreement? What should we do when we see a disagreement and conflicts? The answer is in today’s scripture. Let’s read today’s scripture one more time. On the count of 3. 1, 2, 3.

13)갈라디아서 5:14–15 “For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”

14)Quick question, “How many laws are there in the Pentatauchs?” 15)613. That is right. But Paul is saying is, “Look if you could do one thing, you are keeping al 613.” What is that? 16)“Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you could do this, then all commandments are going to follow. Can you murder your neighbor if you love them? No. Can you steal from your neighbors if you love them? No. That’s impossible. So if you are at a stage where you disagree with someone, what do you need to do? Love them like how you love yourself. 17)Justine Beiber said, if you like the way you look that much you should go and love yourself. To love someone you need to love them like how you love them. I know that’s not Justin Bieber meant, but that is what we need to do.

There will be times where people are not going to live up to your standards. We might say, it is the right thing to do. But before we fight or have conflict, we need to love them like how you love yourself. You guys might say, “But Pastor John he started it!” Yes but someone has to break that disagreement and conflict who should that be? It should be the one that Jesus taught how to love. What did Jesus do amongst the conflicts and disagreements that came towards him? Did he bring God’s army into intervention? No, he took the cross. Why? Because he loved all sinners. Jesus showed what it meant to love others like how you love yourself. Whenever you are hit with a disagreement, think this first. Follow after me, “I know your wrong and I know I am right, but I love you.” This is where we need to be. Don’t do the same thing back. Don’t bring conflict but love them instead.

Now, the second part. What should you do, if you see a conflict. What do we need to do when we are caught up in the middle of our neighbors disagreements? The presidential elections are coming up. So in few weeks time the country is going to be in conflict once again. What should we do? It is not that much different. We need to share the love of Christ. Let’s read 18)요한복음 4:27 “Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?”” Jesus was speaking to a Samaritan woman. Back then Judeans men never talked to Samaritans of course not to women. But this woman was not just a woman but was known for having numerous husbands. She was a sinner in the Jews point of view she was someone that was to be shun. But Jesus he shows his love. Dispite the conflict that she had with the society Jesus chose to share his love and interest with her. No matter who wins or loses no matter what conflicts that this society gets into, what we need to do is be like Jesus. Share the love no matter what. I know this might be irrelevant to you all so I want to tell you more of a relevant case. You may see conflict between your friends. Let’s say, a friend had backstabbed your other friend. Because of that they are cought up in a conflict where it gets all dirty. Talking behind one anothers backs and so forth. Instead of taking one side, what we need to do as Jesus’ disciples we need to love them both. Help them to reconcile. Go approach the one who is in pain or is shun. Be like Jesus and show love. When you see your parents argue, love them both. Be with them. That is what we are called to be.

The only answer to all the problems, all disagreements and conflict is Christ Jesus. Whenever you are hit with a disagreement and conflict, love them like how you love yourself. Whenever you are cought in the middle of a conflict. Love them both with the love that Jesus showed to the samaritan woman. That’s what we need to remember and practice into our lives.

I had a friend that I was really close to. When he was going through a phase of depression I helped him through the panic attacks. I was close with his family too because I was always helping him. But after few disagreements and fights that really ticked me off, I cut him out of my life. He got to know that I did so, when he saw my Kakao Profile Picture change to my wedding photo. For he was not invited. Because he thought that we were really close, he said that he was very shocked and sad. So he too wanted to cut me out of his life too. But instead, he called me not to fight but he called and ask for forgiveness. He said, “I don’t know what I did wrong but if it hurt you in anyway for you to cut me out of your life, I am very sorry.” He could have done the same thing that I did to him out of his pride, but because he had the love of Christ in him, instead he reached out to ask for forgiveness. At that phone call I was ashamed of myself. Ashamed that I dealt with my conflict by cutting him out of my life. From my friend I learned the love of Christ once again.

This is how we should live. Don’t think and act for your own interest but through the love of Jesus. Jesus loved us and he died on the cross to show it. Don’t kill yourselves for others but kill your interests and love them like Jesus loved you that is how we need to handle our conflicts. Today. let’s make that commitment. Lord God! I want to love others like how I love myself. Whenever disagreements and conflicts come our way, let us turn to your love. Let us all close our eyes and raise your hands if you are willing to make that step. Then let’s pray together. Lord, let me love like you! Let me let go of my interests and thoughts and share your love that is in us. Let us pray.

Dear loving father, we thank you telling us to love others amongst our conflicts. Lord. As your love have covered our sins, let your love cover all hate and conflicts in our lives and in this world. Let us see Jesus and let us speak his name and his love wherever and whatever situation. Lord as we commit to this calling give us the strength to love others. WE thank you and in JEsus name we pray amen.

[Benediction]

Father God, as we go out into this world to be your light, let us remember to share your love in our time of conflict and disagreements.

For all who are here today, For all students teachers and for all the missionaries spreading the light all over the earth. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God and the fellowship of the holy spirit be with us always and forevermore. Amen.

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