Why is it so hard for us to love one another? Many times it is because of our differences – we don’t see the world the same way, we don’t have the same preferences, and we aren’t working toward the same ends. Differences often lead to conflicts, not just in Washington, but also in the Church.

But Paul says that there will always be many differences of both perspective and ability among those who truly love and trust the Lord Jesus. Just as the human body needs all kinds of different parts to function well, the Church needs people who can teach, who can lead in worship, who can serve others, who can fix things and who can organize things.

But Paul goes further, indicating that the differences we tend to look down on are to be not only tolerated but celebrated. He points again to the example of the human body, reminding us that it is the less presentable parts of ourselves that we tend to dress most beautifully. So, maybe the way to move past the divisions and misunderstandings both between and within our congregations is to find ways to honor those with whom we disagree. For isn’t showing respect to others a necessary component of loving them?

This is not to say that we should throw our essentials of theology out the window – Paul spends too much time explaining those things in his letters to allow us to believe the truth is disposable! But it is to say that where it comes to genuine Christians, those whose learning we might consider to be deficient may have a lot to show us about worship or service. Likewise, those whose worship isn’t the most interesting or exciting may have a lot of truth to share.

For the truth is that, no matter our differences, all Christians need each other. We need all the abilities and talents and points of view with which God has blessed the whole Church so that together we may glorify God and benefit each other in a richer and fuller fashion.

So instead of dismissing other worship styles as too bland, too boring or too brief on the one hand, or too late, too long and too loud on the other, why don’t we give each other the respect and love that all our fellow Christians deserve? This new year, why don’t we seek out opportunities to reach across some of those arbitrary racial and cultural barriers to worship and serve with other members of the body of Christ?

I Corinthians 12:18-26 (ESV)

18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
19 If all were a single member, where would the body be?
20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty,
24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it,
25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.