The Baptist Preacher

A day or two ago I had a Baptist Preacher come to my door with a youth from his church. He started chatting with my 17 yr old son about going to heaven and about some Christian ideas. I came to the door and greeted this seemingly nice man from Arkansas. We had some very nice thoughts shared but being that I am in the middle of a huge move, I shared that I wasn't interested in coming to his church but that I appreciated our visit and wished him to have a nice day. He proceeded to tell me that he didn't care if I wanted to come to his church and then asked another question of me quizzing my knowledge of the Bible, specifically the New Testament. At this point I asked, "Are you really going to hold me up from what I am doing to banter with me about the Bible?" He said, "No" and kept it up.
I had to shut the door on him, sadly enough. And as I walked back to packing up our home and taking care of our family, I thought, for a preacher he sure did a couple Non-Christlike things by telling a lie about the fact that he didn't care if I wanted to come to his church (or he would have left on the higher note we had been on). And becoming aggressive in his questions on points that he knew we would differ on. And not being kind and respectful to me and my family during an obviously stressful time.
How many times do we contribute to the internal conflicts that those we go to church with have? How many times are we really just looking out for our own agenda and not applying actual Christ-like behaviors in our lives?
How many times are we more interested in a certain result than the others our actions might affect.
Are we more interested in getting a calling or assignment for the attention it would bring us over the great opportunity it might bring for us to serve others or achieve personal growth?
Now don't get me wrong. As responsible, intelligent people we are responsible for our own emotions and reactions to everything in our lives. I'm not giving an out to anyone.
But don't we have to take the time to consider our own actions and how that affects the world around us.
Consider this:

8 For they saw and beheld with great sorrow that the people of the church began to be lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and to set their hearts upon riches and upon the vain things of the world, that they began to be scornful, one towards another, and they began to persecute those that did not believe according to their own will and pleasure.
9 And thus, in this eighth year of the reign of the judges, there began to be great contentions among the people of the church; yea, there were envyings, and strife, and malice, and persecutions, and pride, even to exceed the pride of those who did not belong to the church of God.
10 And thus ended the eighth year of the reign of the judges; and the wickedness of the church was a great stumbling-block to those who did not belong to the church; and thus the church began to fail in its progress.
11 And it came to pass in the *commencement of the ninth year, Alma saw the wickedness of the church, and he saw also that the example of the church began to lead those who were unbelievers on from one piece of iniquity to another, thus bringing on the destruction of the people.
12 Yea, he saw great inequality among the people, some lifting themselves up with their pride, despising others, turning their backs upon the needy and the naked and those who were hungry, and those who were athirst, and those who were sick and afflicted. (Alma 4:8-10)

Look at verse 8! In the church people began to be hard on each other because some had less than them-not quite the right shoes, hat, dress, tie, calling, set of scriptures, hairdo, etc. You don't think that has an effect on the flow of the good things that can be done? Are you kidding? Do you think that you are building up those around you? Or are you assisting Satan in bringing misery into the lives of others? It's your test. You know your score. And yes, there is a score.
In our ward when one of my daughter's fellow classmates found out that her father was going to be in the Bishopric, it was said that she stated, "Good, now the Bishop with know how bad Lauren is." Abuse of power? yes. Painful for my daughter? yes. A stumbling block for Lauren? More of a refiner's fire. See, I've taught my kids that they have to learn from these kinds of things that happen all of their lives.

How does this look to others outside of the church or group? Well, they sure don't want to be a part of that kind of drama, now, do they? If they do, aren't you worried? I'd be.

BUT we can all fix the problemsand work towards better days fairly easily, if we chose. We can be more patient and tolarant not just on the surface but for real. We can be supportive and kind and listen. Do we REALLY need to be better than someone else at church? Why? What's the reward for that? If you need a medal work towards the Olympics or your local City League Tournament. There's real competition and politics. Enjoy.
The greatest reward we will ever get is the peace that comes with being sincere in our efforts to respect each other equally and in getting along in all circumstances.
Want to know how? There are a lot of great books to chose from. I'd start with the scriptures and go from there, personally. But because I'm a work in progress, I'll defer to other's with more wisdom and experience.