The first baseman cannot get along with the center fielder. They just have this weird personality clash. Whenever they get together, the conversation always gets more and more tense until one or the other shakes his head and walks away in frustration. ….
It’s the bottom of the 9th; the bases are loaded, there are two out and their team is down by one. The first baseman is up to bat. Who do think is right up at the top of the dugout steps cheering him on to get a big hit- be the hero- and win the game? You are right! It's the center fielder!
The classic secret to unity is, a common goal and a common opponent. In their case, the opponent or enemy was the other team. The common goal was to win the game. Maybe the goal was to clench the division or win the World Series.
In our case as believers we will find that there are going to be personalities in the church that simply rub us the wrong way. Some people are easier for us to get along with than others. We simply will not mesh with all people in the church in the same way. Some people will be irritating and we will not enjoy their company as much as someone else with a personality more to our liking.
As with the baseball team, the guys don’t always have a say as to who is on the team and who isn’t. They don’t always have a say in who plays which position or how much they play. Those in charge of running the team make these decisions, not the individual players.
The players always have the option of quitting and joining another team or not playing at all; “I’m gonna take my bat and ball and go home!” This is an option but it is a babyish and immature way of doing things.
The better option would be to simply acknowledge that this person is a part of your team like it or not. Also acknowledge that a difference in personality is just that- a difference. Their heart is probably in the right place. They are not actually a bad person; they are just irritating to be around. You don’t have to make them your best friend in the world or spend a lot of ‘hang out’ time with them. Just don’t despise them.
Even if you know you will never be the best of pals, you can still cheer for them to do well. You can hope good things for them. You can pray God’s blessings on them. You can genuinely in your heart want them to succeed and be effective in their walk of faith and service for the Lord.
We have a common enemy; the devil and a common goal- to glorify the Lord and accomplish the work God has called us to as individuals and corporately as a body of believers in the local church. Each church has a ‘team vision’. Cooperate with that vision and receive the other team players as such, whether they are your personality type or not.
If the individual is offensive to you on a level where their behavior is actually in violation of scriptural principles, then the issue will need to be resolved according to scriptural guidelines. If the issue is merely personality or style, just receive the brother or sister in the Lord and hope they hit a home run for Jesus every time they are up to bat. Hopefully they will be cheering for you as well.
Now get out there and PLAY BALL!!! ( OK its corny but you get my drift.)
