LIKEMINDEDNESS

Romans 15:5-7 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

The lesson text begins with Paul's appeal to our heavenly Father as a God of patience and consolation. The scriptures contain many passages that refer to God's patience and longsuffering. The Psalmist wrote this: For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee (Psalm 86:5). The apostle Peter repeatedly refers to the nature of God as being longsuffering (See 1 Pet. 3:20, 2 Pet. 3:9 & 15). Also, God's comforting and consoling nature is expressed by Paul, in his letter to the church at Corinth (See 2 Cor. 1:3-7, 2 Cor. 7:6-7). This expression, recognizing the patience and consolation of God, is followed by Paul's request to Him on behalf of the Christians in Rome. Paul's prayer was that God would grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus.

Paul's desire was that the Christians of Rome, would be a likeminded people having the same ideals; having common goals and mentally agreeable one with another in order to achieve them. It certainly doesn't mean that all people are to have the same personal opinions, because Paul went into great detail to teach the Roman Christians, that they are to forebear one another, in matters that have no bearing on the doctrine of God's church. Using the example of the eating of meats, Paul teaches us that members of the body of Christ are not to quibble over such opinions that are mere meaningless, personal preferences. This he affirms by saying that the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Rom. 14:17). Disunity in the church is as assured result of such trifling arguments.

To be likeminded, then, is not that all Christians are to have the same tastes, preferences, and opinions. Neither is likemindedness having the same capabilities for all members of the body of Christ. As a matter of fact, diverse talents and abilities are necessary for the church of Christ to efficiently, and effectively, perform God's will. This is firmly stated over and over again by Paul (See Eph. 4:11-12, 1 Cor. 12:27-31). Notice how Paul explained this to the Roman Christians. He wrote, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness (Rom. 12:5-8).

From this introduction, we can see that the church of Christ needs members having different ideas and opinions, or else we could never find better ways of accomplishing good works. The church also needs members having different talents and abilities, because all are not equally capable of preaching, teaching, visiting the sick, leading singing, comforting the downcast, cleaning and maintaining the church building, etc. In what, then, should Christians be likeminded? The lesson text tells us: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. The God-given mission of the body of Christ is to glorify God. Likemindedness allows Christians to achieve this responsibility. Jesus Christ receives, with open arms, all that, through obedience to the will of God, accept Him as the Savior of the world - all that come to Him seeking eternal salvation. Paul tells all Christians to, not only be likeminded with each other, but, also to have the mind of Christ - to be likeminded with Jesus Christ. Members of the church of Christ, Paul writes, are exhorted to receive ye one another, as Christ received us, to the glory of God.

The unified mission of the church is to glorify God in our worship services - to offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, (which is) the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name (Heb. 13:15). Our worship to God is also accomplished by doing His will; that is, to edify our fellow Christians and to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world (See Matt. 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-16, Eph. 4:14-16, 1 Thess. 1:8, etc.). Finally, worship to God involves a unified effort to provide for the needs of widows (Acts 6:1-6, 1 Tim. 5:16), fatherless (James 4:27), and the poor (Acts 11:27-30, also read 2 Cor. 8 & 9). Glorifying God can only be accomplished through Christian unity - Christians that are likeminded!