I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. 
Phil 4: 2-3

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When I was 12 years old, I remember church meetings because I could attend with my parents as a newly baptized church member. Excited to be included was an understatement. I would be with my dad, a brilliant, shy engineer who always looked at things from all angles and asked good questions. 

At one time, our church was in a building phase. During the discussion, my dad stood up and asked, “Have you taken multiple bids for this project?” The trustee in charge of the meeting responded, “You’ve got to be kidding, Bob. Who do you think we are? Of course, we did!” 

The whole room began laughing except for me. My dad may have also been laughing, but I don’t know because I hung my head and closed my eyes, feeling wounded and embarrassed. 

My dad and I never discussed the incident, so why do I remember this today? It’s because our bodies remember experiences. I was sad on behalf of my dad. God knows about these things—Paul wrote about this very kind of thing in our passage today (Phil 4:2-3). Paul encourages the women in the passage to iron out their differences because “hurt people, hurt people.”

Why did he do this? Paul is concerned about the unity of the whole church body, as we should be today. This year, I shared an opinion about a topic that churches everywhere try to reach a consensus on. My opinion hurt another person’s feelings, and I immediately regretted saying it the way I did. I should have said, “Can we agree to disagree?” But I didn’t. 

God would like something different from me—He wants more for me, which may mean more from me. He wants me to be courageous in Him, to do the right thing, and say, “I’m sorry”, which may  not be immediately, but eventually, when I know I have hurt another soul’s heart.

What if someone doesn’t know they have inadvertently wounded me? Then, I also have a responsibility to let the person know how I feel. 

The women in the Galatian church had traveled with Paul and were believers. It was important enough to write to the church about the conflict because I would imagine that they were possibly creating disunity, while other believers were most likely taking sides. This is not good for the ultimate goal of spreading the love of Jesus. 

In every church, there is pain, sadness, and sometimes broken hearts. I believe in the church Jesus initiated, and that we, His disciples, are helping Him build the church. God desires us to be unified, mend fences, and sometimes agree to disagree. 

Next Steps

In Junior High, “Let There Be Peace on Earth” was my favorite song we sang in the choir. I loved this line:“And let it begin with me.” Maybe it means you and I say to one another, “I feel wounded by your words. Help me understand why you said that.”