A thought...
Hand in hand with all the study into what began where or what have you, that each is responsible to, there is the equal responsibility of the need to study out how to grow in grace such that where differences in understandings arise, there is ever a willingness to explore them, even if on our own, absent of animosity not only towards those one differs with, but when theirs is animosity toward us.
Some of the Pastors appear to get that into their own studies. Some do not. Likewise within the ranks of some of their respective followers.
What is the point of all "this Mystery truth" if is then turned by its subscriber into a means of persecuting those who do not yet see what we supposedly do?
The point of the Mystery is manifesting the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
Our pattern in this?
Romans 5's:
7. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
That is to be our pattern when we find others do not see eye to ey with us.
To remember that "when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly" v. 6.
You see, we don't need for others to abide by our standard of acceptance in order for us to be happy.
Nor do we need for them to say things to us in just the right soft voice, or what have you.
All we each need is to ask 'okay, I don't like this. Still, the Scripture teaches me what I am to be instructed in as to how to handle this or that that has just been thrown my way (or that I have perceived as such). Let me see, what does the Scripture say....
Okay, here's something - in' Philippians 4:
11. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
12. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
'That's it; that is what I will do - these things here in this passage. I can do those things - through Christ which strengtheneth me.'
Then, whether the other person does likewise or not, it matters not.
Because Christ is not only all but is then actually all where He is, wants to be, and can be - "in you that believe" in Him.
Doing this, we find ourselves in Romans 8: 28.
"... we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
We find that the nonsense of another, as well as when the nonsense is actually our own mis-perception - we find that all things - both what we encounter and how we choose to look at it, can now work together for good if we'll just exercise our will and decide to follow the Spirit's take on things as laid out by Him in His Word - we find they can work together for good.
That is to say, they work together, both the problem and our Word based focus, to conform us just a bit more to the image of the Son, just as God had pre-destinated would be the case, through this very process in the child of God who decides to walk by its same rule.
29. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
31. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Think of it. What if sometimes unavoidable differences and their animosities could be turned into a means of in-ward man revival?
What if our response during such uncomfortable moments was 'thanks for that; I can apply the doctrine to it and by that allow the Spirit to conform me just a bit more through His Word, to the image of the Son!"
Its no wonder Paul often related his having been able to rejoice in tribulations of all sorts.
He had determined to view it all as a chisel woodworking his in-ward man through the Word to conform him that much more to the image of the Son.
Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 4 come to mind:
13. We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
14. Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
