Ah, to "put up with" someone or something. We're all familiar with the art, well, almost all of us. The popular sitcom "Seinfeld" makes a comedy out of the fact that Jerry is unwilling to put up with anything inconvenient or unpleasing about his girlfriends... whether the pitch of her voice, giving up mimicking the sound of her stomach or the type of nose she has. He certainly does not put up with much, and for that reason... he's never with a single girlfriend for very long. Similarly, Chandler on "Friends" breaks up with a girl because of the way her mascara is always 'gloopy'. Comical when you go to these extremes, but "putting up with" is certainly not easy and certainly never what we'd like to do. We'd like our husband to memorize our 7 categories of towels. We'd like our wife to stop with that strange 'fake laugh' of hers. We'd like our kids to be able to play outside without getting into a horrible mess! We'd like our friends to undo those sometimes annoying habits.
I've thought of the beauty of "putting up with" many times, but today was the first time I though about it in the context of praising our Father. Wait... aren't those 2 different topics? Why both in the same reflection? Aren't they just 2 shoulds that are in different parts of our Christian programming? It would appear not...
Putting Up With --> Praising
1We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me."[a] 4For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
5May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 8For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews[b]on behalf of God's truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs 9so that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written:
"Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing hymns to your name."[c] 10Again, it says,
"Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people."[d] 11And again,
"Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and sing praises to him, all you peoples."[e] 12And again, Isaiah says,
"The Root of Jesse will spring up,
one who will arise to rule over the nations;
the Gentiles will hope in him."[f]
13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:1-13)
This entire section of Romans is quite beautiful, outlining a call to unity and acceptance among the entire congregation. We are to model Christ in pleasing others before ourselves, and I can't help but wonder if the first verse was one of the inspirational passages for the old Brethren saying, "For the glory of God and my neighbor's good." In fact, that touches on the exact theme of import here. When I am doing for my neighbor's good, it is also for God's glory... it is also praise for the Lord.
I'd like to point out verse 7, where Paul writes, "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." We are not to put up with one another just to make our lives miserable, just to make someone else happy, just to make things difficult... this is linked to our very purpose of being. We exist to praise and glorify the Lord our God who is so worthy, and when we accept (put up with) one another, we are bringing praise to the Lord. What higher reason do we need? After all, Christ accepted (put up with) us. We didn't deserve it at all. We didn't deserve what He did for us. In some small tiny way we can show the love that Jesus bestowed on us by putting up with one another.
Notice it doesn't say 'be best friends with' or 'love X to death' or 'make Y your favorite person in the world.' No. It is a simple request to accept that person... to put up with that person. To acknowledge that person as a valuable child of God. Seems simple, but sometimes it's not quite that way when we 'think we are right.' But, here is the principle of 'forbearance' which the COB has practiced on many occasions, something I respect greatly and view as an example of a living peace church. It is remaining united, and accepting others, even when we don't necessarily agree... holding the unity and peace and love of your brothers and sisters at a higher standard than your own self. When we see that happen, whether it looks like a church that stays together or a marriage, friends that come from different sides of the political spectrum or parents and children who openly express their differences and love each other, would-be enemies shaking hands in any area, that certainly is praise-worthy. I believe Paul is right.
And if we were created to praise the Lord, we were also meant to put up with His children.
Praise Worthy!
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