Mutual Submission

“So do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow. Take these men, join in their purification rites and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved. Then everybody will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law.”
Acts 21: 23,24

Life Application Bible Commentary:
“Although Paul was a man of strong convictions, he was willing to compromise on non-essential points, becoming all things to all people so that he might save some (1 Cor. 9: 19-23). Often churches split over disagreements about minor issues or traditions. Like Paul, we should remain firm on Christian essentials but flexible on non-essentials. Of course, no one should violate his or her true convictions, but sometimes we need to exercise the gift of mutual submission for the sake of the gospel”

I really don’t think I could state that any better than above. Too often we lose focus and take sides within church denominations over “non-essential” issues. I don’t find that productive. For anyone. Don’t lose sight of the fact that all Christians, whether Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran, Catholic, etc. have the same end goal in sight. To spread the Good News to all people. Do you believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Awesome. Are you living a life that is focused on serving for Him and working out His will? Great! Everything else is just details.

Please don’t take my simplification as me not finding value in tradition or the details. I definitely do. But I do NOT find value in arguing over points the Bible is not clear on, or becoming so focused on different traditions that we create chasms with our brothers and sisters in Christ. When we get to that point, Satan starts winning the battle, because pointless bickering divides/weakens us as the driving Christian force we can be when unified, and causes us to lose focus of the end goal. Each tradition has its own niche of people it will speak to. So let each speak accordingly. If people are learning about our Lord, well that is a GOOD thing. You’ve got to leave some of it up to God. He will move differently in people’s hearts as He sees fits. Remember, it’s not about us and what we think. It’s all about HIM.