You Haven't Played Yahtzee?!

I was traveling to Monroe, LA with my good friend/co-worker/future business partner/fellow church planter from Words Less Spoken and we were just talking about life in general when the topic went to games. I love games. Board games, card games, table games, computer games, any game really. I was telling him the games we play when we are at my ma-maw's house, which include progressive rummy, scrabble, dominos, and Yahtzee. After a few minutes of my rattling on and on about the fun we have, he confesses to me, "I've never played Yahtzee." Of course I'm glad I wasn't driving or I may have driven off the road in dis-belief. This was like an alien was speaking to me. Once I regained consciousness, I looked over at him and said, "Are you serious?" like he had just admitted stealing from the pope. You must understand, he and I are so similar. Similar backgrounds, similar likes and dislikes, similar...lots of things, so to here this come out of his mouth, well let's just say I was shocked.
Why in the world did I just tell you the story? It made me think of some things the next day (remember, I received quite a shock and had pondered the idea of someone close to my age never having played Yahtzee). What it made me think of was: 1. No matter how similar people are to us, they are still different or, better yet, unique and 2. Just because something is so loved by us doesn't mean that others will find those things even enjoyable. Let me explore these two things further.
Similarities are the things that bring individuals together, also referred to as "common ground". We assume lots of times that similarities are enough, and for starters they are enough, but as time passes we will learn more and more about others and the un-similarities. At this point, we have decisions to make, either call it quits or work through the differences. The example about Yahtzee is not a big deal, easily overcome, but what about those harder issues. What if we find someone that is similar to us and we find out in time that they have no problem with something that you have a big problem with, say abortion. I think that abortion is hideous, and I am passionate about that, and at this point in the conversation your similar buddy says to you, "Hey man its no big deal", what is your response. My response to that has changed in the past few years and this has been the progression thus far, five years ago, intense hatred, three years ago, pity, last year or so, inquisitiveness, now, acceptance. I still think that abortion is hideous, and my buddy's response doesn't change that, we can still be buddies. He has an opinion and so do I, that doesn't change, what has changed in my life is the simple realization that everyone is different/unique just as God made them. The point expressed by Jesus, "love your neighbors as yourself" doesn't mean just when they agree with you on all points but all the times they don't too. Can't we all just get along?
Secondly, those things that we hold so dear in our hearts are sometimes not all that important to others. I would like to insert here beliefs. I believe one way(which I am finding is being refined constantly) and someone I know doesn't even care about those beliefs, how do I react to that? History tells us that beliefs were so sacred that if you didn't believe the same way, you were killed off. Christians, Muslims, Hindus, it doesn't matter. Look at the history of these "causes". Violence, greed, hatred was what provoked "crusades" to take place in order to remove the "heathens" from existence. This is, sadly, not only in the past. In today's world, we are still seeing violence, greed, and hatred when it comes to those that don't believe the same as others. Is it our job to wipe someone out when they believe differently than us? Are we always right? I know I am seldom right and this is not a false humility, I really don't know the answers to a lot of questions. I thought it was my responsibility to love everyone unconditionally as Jesus loves me. I am to go to the poor and wretched and the different and love them without prejudice. I think I've read that somewhere before. This whole entry boils down to this, love is the answer to those "toughest of all" things we deal with everyday. Out love your neighbor and see if what a difference your life makes now and forever.
Love,
SIM Church Planter