What is Agreement?
...and what is agreement "in the Lord?"
Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may. Herein all the children of God may unite, notwithstanding these smaller differences. - John Wesley
Luke 22:14-23 | Philippians 4:1-4 | Gospels during Lent: Luke 23-24
How neat that these two passages lined up together for us today. Jesus welcomed his disciples to eat together at a table. He took a cup and told them to share it among yourselves. He emphasized the giving of his body and his blood, which means everything. All of himself.
And at the first sign of difficulty from within their ranks, they argue among themselves about it all.
Something has been going on in the Philippian church to the point that Paul feels the need to say something to Euodia and Syntyche, whoever they may be. We don’t know the nature disagreement. But Paul calls them to agreement…in the Lord.
What is agreement in the Lord? Is it different than simple agreement? Does it mean everything we think/believe/do is to be the exact same? Or is there something beyond in the love of Christ in that we can exist differently, but with the same love?
In chapter 2, Paul shorted the Philippians to be “of the same mind.” It sure seems to our modern, Western-educated minds that this means we have to agree on everything.
It just doesn’t seem this is the way Jesus operates.
Luke 22:14-23
When the time came, Jesus took his place at the table, and the apostles joined him. He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. I tell you, I won’t eat it until it is fulfilled in God’s kingdom.” After taking a cup and giving thanks, he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. I tell you that from now on I won’t drink from the fruit of the vine until God’s kingdom has come.” After taking the bread and giving thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, he took the cup after the meal and said, “This cup is the new covenant by my blood, which is poured out for you.
“But look! My betrayer is with me; his hand is on this table. The Human One goes just as it has been determined. But how terrible it is for that person who betrays him.” They began to argue among themselves about which of them it could possibly be who would do this.
Philippians 4:1-4
Therefore, my brothers and sisters whom I love and miss, who are my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord.
Loved ones, I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to come to an agreement in the Lord. Yes, and I’m also asking you, loyal friend, to help these women who have struggled together with me in the ministry of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my coworkers whose names are in the scroll of life.
Prayer
God,
We’re pretty terrible at agreement these days. Maybe it’s nothing new, but it sure seems we’ve mastered extreme polarization better than ever. But I truly do wonder if our misplacement isn’t in aligning all the specific details of life, but rather, in how we go about handling the details of life.
Am I being silly? I really mean this, Lord. I wonder. I hope.
Your justice does seem to require some exactness. Jesus certainly had words about particular actions. It just seems to me that the anger we generate due to mismatched priorities aren’t in the same realm as his.
Further, it seems that in the Christ you sent, Jesus didn’t work toward universal agreement amongst all people, but among those who claim to be the people of God.
So help us, God.
Help us to have the same love. Help us to at least demonstrate love within ourselves, that with a hurting, fighting world watching, they might at least say, “See how they love each other.”
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.