If I had to choose between my wife and my putter... well, I’d miss her.
Accepting people
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. Romans 15:7We are to accept and welcome people. The reason? Because Jesus has welcomed and accepted us. The Roman church was a disparate group – Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor, strong in the faith and weak but Paul wants them to be united. There were lots of differences between them but only one Christ and they were to be united in him.
What is more, if, as Paul asks, they follow Christ’s example, the welcome will be unreserved. This is a challenge but Jesus said we were to forgive others because God has forgiven us and we are to welcome and accept others because Jesus has welcomed and accepted us.
In our church – yours and mine – there are people we like more than others, people we find it easier to get on with than others. But we are to accept everyone as Christ has accepted us.
While this passage is addressed to Christians in the context of the church, there are principles here about dealing with people in our teams and clubs. Being willing to accept and welcome people is a good place to start.