"That not the way we play it"

I know this is an imperfect analogy. There's nothing remotely game-like about the seriousness of Spiritual matters. But I think, therefore I write...

We had out of state guests visiting last weekend. After two busy days visting local sites, we decided to spend a quiet evening at home.

I suggested an easy-to-learn card game that works well with a larger group. Two of our five visitors recognized the game by a different name and soon the cards were shuffled and ready.

We briefly explained the object of the game to the others.

"Oh, that's not the way we do the scoring," one guest said, as I explained the point system.

We compared notes and the basic outcome would be the same, so confusion resolved.

Several other times during the game we stopped and discussed for the same reasons,

"That's not how we learned it," or "that's not the way we play it back home."

But each time we cordially worked through the detail, realizing that our differences didn't actually alter the game's core purpose or outcome. In fact, some of their traditional elements were very appealing to me. I'd even like to incorporate some of their ways the next time I play.

The apostle Paul encouraged,

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when you were called--one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

Ephesians 4:3-6

The Bible instructs us to be humbly considerate...while remaining true to our core beliefs.

If our guests were to have said, "We play this with 32 pieces resembling medievel characters on an 8 by 8 checkered board," they would have described a totally different game and core outcome. If they had said, "We play the very same game by the very same name, but in addition to the deck of cards, we must also have domino's and dice on the table," I would be wary and scrupulous to determine whether the same name masked critical differences.

My belief in Christ is rooted in His own words of encouragement and instruction in the Gospels of the Bible.

"One Lord, one faith, one baptism."

Give thoughtful and prayerful consideration when people speak of a different Way.

What do you believe?