Writing about this topic has been on my mind for nearly two months now. I kept pushing it back and pushing it back. Now it’s been a couple weeks since I’ve written a post, and I really don’t have anything else to write about. This is just one of those topics that I don’t really want to write about, but that I feel the need to write about.
In last week’s podcast, Beau asked me about what I liked most about at YouthFire, and he also asked what I wanted at YouthFire in the future. We have all these great resources and stuff here, but it’s the community that makes YouthFire what it is. So really, I just want a stronger sense of community.
I know there are many strong friendships within YouthFire, and I think that’s awesome. However, it just seems to me like there are a few people who want to pick and bite and tear friendships apart. There are people who want come come in and disrupt the sense of unity within the body of believers. I’ve seen people come who ask questions or make comments that tear the body down rather than build it up. It just…saddens me. I’m not even talking about non-Christians here. There are Christians who come and they just want to point out errors, complain, slander, etc.
I don’t think this is the way it should be, and it frustrates me. I know several of these people, and I like several of these people, but sometimes I’m just saddened at the way they promote disunity at times.
Philippians 2:1-4 says, “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
We’re not always going to agree on everything, but we shouldn’t let this divide us. These verses mean that we shouldn’t be pointing out the flaws of another person’s argument just for the sake of argument. I’ve known several people who are more concerned with showing that they are right rather than actually being right. I despise when people get this condescending tone and try showing how much the other person is wrong. I have to admit, I’ve done it before, but it’s not something I want to continue doing. This is not putting others’ interests before my own.
I also don’t like it when people come in and complain about this and that about YouthFire. Somehow, to them, there’s nothing good about YouthFire, but they still come. I guess I just don’t get it. If you don’t like YouthFire, just don’t come. What’s the use of coming just to complain? I’ll be the first to admit that YouthFire isn’t perfect, but sitting in the chatroom complaining all day about it won’t do any good.
Anyway, I know I’ve gone off on a few tangents here and started ranting. I’m sorry about that. Now you know why I really didn’t want to write this post. I don’t want to condemn anybody, but I do want to bring this issue to light, because I do think it’s a problem. If we all work to promote unity, I think YouthFire will be a much better place than it already is.
