Reaching across the aisle.....

Have you heard politicians make that statement?  They stand behind a wood podium asking for your vote and trying to make you feel like an idiot if you do not want to vote for them.  They make claims.....one of them is to reach across the aisle.


I have grown up in the church.  I have sat there with my coloring books and pink bibles and now I sit there with my own children and my husband.  In that time, I have seen some issues divide brother against brother, sister against sister and family against family.  Divides happen almost overnight and even if it does not split a congregation there are people who are not connected to other people.  Before you know it, no one is reaching across the aisle to shake hands, let alone, encourage, admonish, serve or love.

From this lady's late 30's perspective, I see a brewing problem.  Before I come out and state the problem let me describe two different people types that I see across the aisle.......

BROTHER AL

This brother is typically in the younger half of life.  He is educated, never been in the military but working.  He has been upper middle class all his life and excluding a stint as a relatively comfortable college student though poor, he has lived in a way he rarely needs to deny himself his desires or wants.  He may be married or single and may have 2.5 children or be planning for them.  He listens to a wide range of music from christian rock to folk songs to rap and he has many pass times that give him not only things to talk to his peers about but to occupy his time outside of work.  He rarely speaks to anyone outside his immediate close friends at church.  He has been in the church his entire life and his parent's "raised him right."  He is often discouraged about things in his congregation.  He doesn't feel uplifted about the singing, the preaching or the work that is going on.  He wants people to do more but lacks talent or motivation to initiate that.  He gathers with his friends and although not malicious in intent he gently "bashes" his fellow brothers and sisters and leadership because he would like to see some more progressive and "relevant" work and worship take place.  He wants to see more people in the congregation doing the work with widows and orphans but may or may not participate in this work himself.  He is discouraged, disgruntled and disheartened.

After worship, Brother Al turns and steps into the aisle and in an effort to leave accidentally crosses paths with another that he rarely speaks to......

BROTHER BOB

Brother Bob is typically an experienced man.  He may be a grandfather at this point.  He has seen many things.  He does not think himself wise but wishes that more listened to him.  He was likely in the military or was a man that had to make something of himself where so much was hard early on.  He became a Christian a bit later in life.  He has remained faithful through ugly splits in his congregations over things such as instrumental music, and divorce and remarriage.  He cringes every time brothers and sisters disagree, praying that it will not end in a mess where brother will not talk to brother.  He is easy to get a long with but a bit shy.  He enjoys the children  but is frustrated with the lack of discipline training offered by their parents.  He would love to step outside himself a bit and get to know some of the families but does not know how he will be received if he did.  He often speaks in bible classes and feels like he is often combating a subtle shift in what he can only call liberalism.  He gains great encouragement and joy from the old hymns sung for ages and finds the new ones that many of the younger members prefer to be "dumb down" lacking in deeper meaning.  He finds comfort and assurance in the familiar rhythm of worship that has been apart of this group for decades and feel it would be borderline sinful for any change to be made.  He is not able to get around as easily and refrains from going to any of the "extras" that are hosted from time to time.  He fears that people think he does not want to be with them, and that is not it.  He does gather for morning coffee with a couple of his peers.  They have no malicious intent but proceed in gently rebuking the others for bringing in the creeping liberalism. He is often discouraged, disgruntled and disheartened.  


Now both brothers face each other in the aisle.  Will they say a polite excuse me?  Or will one extend the hand?
Brother Al and Brother Bob can be all different ages and backgrounds.  In almost any organized group you typically see the person who wants change (good or bad) and the person who wants to stand with tradition (good or bad).  For myself, I have been both a brother Al and a brother Bob.

Let us ask ourselves a few questions in dealing with our brothers and sisters.  And I find it ironic that both brothers....though so different need to ask the same questions.

Is Christ divided?  Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:13 asks his brothers this question when they were quarreling about baptism and which person's performance meant more.  Is your division over hymns, work groups or organization worth dividing over?

Is this divide pleasant or pleasing to our God?  Psalms 133:1

Are you seeking and pursuing peace?  1 Peter 3:8-11

Is your goal to be one body in unity and peace?  Ephesians 4:1-7

Are you outdoing one another?  Romans 12:10, Hebrews 13:1

At times I am brother Al.....wanting so badly to not be stuck in a "tradition" with no meaning to me and so many times I am brother Bob just longing for the comfort and peace that comes in familiar.

Back to the aisle?  Brother Al choses, "good morning" instead of the polite way to remove himself.  Brother Bob, surprised, offers his hand and asks Al about his work.   Al answers and asks Bob what he does with his time.  Bob invites Al to coffee and all of a sudden those coffee brothers politely bashing are having real productive conversations about work and worship in the Lord.  They begin to appreciate each others point of view and each others zeal expressed in different unique ways.  Now would that not be a more biblical end to the story?  or......do we stay status quo....

"Excuse me."  both men move on and leave the building after worship.

I am old and

You are young

But sinners we be

Forever bonded in a need

for salvation full and free

I am young but 

You are old

Wisdom I can see

Forever bonded in a thirst 

for Knowledge is the key

I am me and 

you are you

age should never be

Forever parting us against

for someone died for we