A pastor friend of mine, Ryan Rhoden, was asked to mediate between some believers in his church who were experiencing disagreement on a particular issue. . He said, “I will bring my bad theology, and you bring yours, and let’s sit down and talk.” The pastor was instructing his people how to navigate discord; he was seeking harmony, not agreement. 

As varied as opinions can be in the Church on a variety of issues, we are called to a unity based on seeking harmony with other believers, not agreement on all issues.

“How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron’s head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe” (Psalm 133:1-2).

Harmony takes effort and requires patience to receive its benefits. The Church can be divided over lesser issues, not something like the divinity of Jesus or the way of salvation. Instead, we try to get opposing opinions on board with our way of thinking, not on issues that matter most to keep the Church intact over unchanging truths. Those lesser things have always been a point of disagreement in the Church, preventing people from experiencing the power of harmony.

To live a life always trying to convince people with opposing views to align with our interpretation of reality is exhausting. Harmony is not lockstep agreement on everything. That will produce a cultish representation of God’s Kingdom. 

Harmony can only come when, like in a symphony, we each play our unique part of God’s song and trust that Jesus, the Conductor, will bring the rest of the discordant sounds together in a unified harmony. 

Without harmony as our goal, we will become harsh and uncaring, out of tune with the rest of God’s instruments. Harmony requires humility, not pride, to experience its refreshing benefits. 

“Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing, even life everlasting” (vs. 3).