Contention is Spiritually Unhealthy for Us

 

The Peace of Christ Abolishes Enmity

By Elder Dale G. Renlund

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Yet, in some instances, the spiritual stress test has shown tendencies toward contention and divisiveness. This suggests that we have work to do to change our hearts and to become unified as the Savior’s true disciples. This is not a new challenge, but it is a critical one....

His latter-day work is compromised when contention or enmity⁹ exists among His disciples.¹⁰ Second, contention is spiritually unhealthy for us as individuals. We are robbed of peace, joy, and rest, and our ability to feel the Spirit is compromised....

If I am quick to take offense or respond to differences of opinion by becoming angry or judgmental, I “fail” the spiritual stress test. This failed test does not mean that I am hopeless. Rather, it points out that I need to change. And that is good to know.

After the Savior’s visit to the Americas, the people were unified; “there was no contention in all the land.”¹² Do you think that the people were unified because they were all the same, or because they had no differences of opinion? I doubt it. Instead, contention and enmity disappeared because they placed their discipleship of the Savior above all else. Their differences paled in comparison to their shared love of the Savior, and they were united as “heirs to the kingdom of God.”¹³ The result was that “there could not be a happier people … who had been created by the hand of God.”¹⁴

Unity requires effort.¹⁵ It develops when we cultivate the love of God in our hearts¹⁶ and we focus on our eternal destiny.¹⁷ We are united by our common, primary identity as children of God¹⁸ and our commitment to the truths of the restored gospel. In turn, our love of God and our discipleship of Jesus Christ generate genuine concern for others. We value the kaleidoscope of others’ characteristics, perspectives, and talents.¹⁹ If we are unable to place our discipleship to Jesus Christ above personal interests and viewpoints, we should reexamine our priorities and change.

We might be inclined to say, “Of course we can have unity—if only you would agree with me!” A better approach is to ask, “What can I do to foster unity? How can I respond to help this person draw closer to Christ? What can I do to lessen contention and to build a compassionate and caring Church community?”

When love of Christ envelops our lives,²⁰ we approach disagreements with meekness, patience, and kindness.²¹ We worry less about our own sensitivities and more about our neighbor’s. We “seek to moderate and unify.”²² We do not engage in “doubtful disputations,” judge those with whom we disagree, or try to cause them to stumble.²³ Instead, we assume that those with whom we disagree are doing the best they can with the life experiences they have.