The deity of Christ, the Bible being the word of God, the bodily resurrection of Christ, salvation by grace alone through faith alone, and the physical return of Jesus. These, if you will, constitute mere Christianity, and Christians should unify around these core teachings. When it comes to non-essentials, however, like the method of baptism, the details of the end times, or the debate over God’s sovereignty versus our free will, we need to give people and denominations freedom to differ. 

The “other side” is crazy. I get it. They’ve lost it. You just want to blast them. I know exactly how you feel because I feel the same way. I have the most clever, funny, and position-destroying comments on the tip of my tongue (or—in the case of social media—my fingertips). Ninety-nine out of a hundred times, though, I hold off from delivering that jab, even though the jerk deserves it.

I want to be gracious, and right now that’s a virtue in short supply.

This year has been out of control. Unfortunately, so have many people’s manners. This is a reminder to be gracious to others—especially when it’s easy not to.

I’m not saying I’m perfect—far from it. This is a reminder for myself, as well.

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