Relating to Each Other in Trust and Integrity

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Matthew 7:1–2)

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring you to God … I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge, and competent to instruct one another. (Romans 15:7,14)

The fourth core value that the Vision and Mission Team identified in 2008 is: We relate to one another with trust and integrity

Christians can be confident in one another because of the work of Christ in each or our lives. We can believe the best in our fellow Christian and in spite of our many weaknesses we know that God will complete in each believer what He began at their salvation.

One of the interesting things of the apostles is that they always saw Christians in the highest possible terms. Despite the problems the churches were dealing with, despite their weaknesses, when they wrote to them they described them positively. For example, Paul wrote: “To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ” (Col. 1:2); “To the saints … the faithful in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 1:1); “to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy” (1 Cor. 1:2). This was typical of the positive way they saw each other in Christ.

The habit of some to criticize, to find fault, and to doubt whether anyone can really improve or change, all falls away at the power of the cross. Through the cross we learn that none of us is able to save himself. We all are fallen creatures. But God is at work in Christ redeeming us.

Because of the love of Christ and the power of His Spirit, we can see each other positively — not in light of our failures but in light of the power and grace of God.

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Cor. 5:16–17)

Now we can relate to one another positively and honestly, in hope and confidence, not negatively in suspicion and doubt. And because we treat others positively, they will treat us the same way.

• Pray that God would wash away from our memories old disagreements and old pains of betrayals.
• Pray that in the place of doubt we would have hope for one another
• Pray for those who serve on committees and in ministries in our church, that we would all see each other in light of the progress we have found in Christ, and not in the light of our old failures of the flesh.
• Pray that we might be worthy of respect and trust.
• Pray that we might deal with one another honestly — not lying for some personal advantage, but trust in God and simply telling the truth.
• Pray that God may give you patience with others, even as He gives them patience for dealing with you.
• Pray that we would be kind, positive, and uplifting with our words with one another.