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. Gal. 5:14-15 (NIV)
For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 1 Cor. 13:9-10 (ESV)
Dear heavenly Father, there are so many reasons I’m looking forward to life in the new heaven and new earth, one of those being perfected understanding among your children. When we, your sons and daughters engage in theological oneupmanship, and “bite and devour” one another, no one could possibly grieve it more than you. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on me. If our theology doesn’t humble us, it’s not Biblical theology.
O for the Day when we will no longer know in part or love in part—the Day when we will never again label, dismiss, or marginalize one another, over our differing doctrines and Biblical interpretations. That we who have been saved by your grace—from beginning to end, should ever resort to condescending, judgmental, dismissive attitudes with fellow brothers and sisters in Jesus, is tragic and unacceptable.
Father, forgive me for those times when I choose being right over being kind. Forgive me for loving my theological tribe much more than other parts of the Body of Christ. Forgive me for defending sovereign grace ungraciously. Forgive me for thinking to myself, “I get the gospel so much more than they do.” Forgive me for using Biblical knowledge to put up walls, rather than build bridges. Forgive me and free me to love to your glory, this very day. So very Amen I pray, in Jesus’ tender and triumphant name.