Like-mindedness Amongst God's Children

D. E. Hoste was one of the Cambridge Seven who left England as a young man to win souls to Christ in inland China.  Later, Hudson Taylor appointed him to the position of Acting General Director of the China Inland Mission, thus becoming his successor.

The following wise words are an extract from one of his articles that he contributed to China's Millions that is included in the biography by Phyllis Thompson, D. E. Hoste:  "A Prince With God.".

"Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus." Rom xv. 5.

"In these words the Apostle recognizes that like-mindedness amongst God's children is the result of Divine power and grace rather than of human effort, however sincere and well-intentioned.  His language also implies that the attainment of this like-mindedness will not always be an easy matter; but rather the reverse.

"God Himself is exercising much patience in order to bring men into a state of like-mindedness with Himself, and it is this same God of patience who alone can work in us and so secure a similar condition, not only as between Himself and His children, but as amongst them in their mutual relationships.  Some difficulties in the way of realizing this end may here be referred to.

"Much is due to the natural [sic] depravity of our hearts, which tends to engender in us a perverse and obstinate spirit in holding on to our own point of view and makes us unwilling to admit mistake.

"Not the least dangerous feature of this tendency is its subtlety.  It may frequently operate in our minds and bias our view of things quite unknown to ourselves.  A habit may thus be formed of instinctively holding on to our own righteousness and adhering to our own ways and opinions in a spirit that will effectually blind us to anything that may be urged on the other side of the case.

"We are repeatedly warned in the Holy Scripture against this form of self-deception, and are also taught that it is the poor in spirit and the meek who will be truly taught of God and led into a right and true view of the matters concerning which there may be difference of opinion amongst brethren.  'Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God.'

"Another frequent hindrance to growth in like-mindedness is to be found in the prejudice resulting from incomplete and one-sided knowledge.

"It is a common attitude of men in controversy, unduly to dwell upon the errors and the weak points in others, without sufficiently taking into account such truth and goodness and strength of character as they may possess.

"Unless we are on our guard, it is easy to allow the faults and mistakes of our opponents to blind us to their virtues; whilst, on the other hand, the good points attaching to our own side can equally blind us to its blemishes.

"In this connection it is instructive to observe the discriminating and comprehensive character of our Lord's estimate of the seven Churches, to whom He sends His messages through His servant John, as recorded in the early chapters of the Revelation.  His words include generous recognition of all that was praiseworthy in those He was addressing, whilst at the same time not passing over their failures.

"Another hindrance to like-mindedness sometimes arises from the irritation and personal feeling excited in the course of discussion.  The mutual ascription of unworthy motives and aspersions on the personal character of those between whom differences exist, are, to be feared, responsible for more division amongst Christian people than the intrinsic antagonism between the opinions they may severally hold.

"It would be easy to mention other hindrances, but the foregoing will be sufficient for our purpose of emphasizing our need of the inworking of the God of patience in order to realize like-mindedness.

"There is a kind of easy-going agreement with others, the outcome not of genuine charity, but of haziness and laxity in one's own opinions. On the other hand, where there is intensity of conviction and a deep sense of its vital importance, the maintenance of a judicial mind and a patient, charitable attitude towards those who differ from us, is often extremely difficult.

"In this respect the Apostle Paul furnishes us with a bright and outstanding example.  We know from his own writings that the great truths concerning Redemption and the Church of God were specially revealed to him, as a vessel chosen to make them known amongst men, and it is quite clear from his writings that his apprehension of these Divine mysteries permeated his whole being.  How intensely then must he have felt the coldness and apathy with which his teaching was met in some quarters, to say nothing of the suspicion and even opposition shown by certain sections of the Christian community.

"It is easy to imagine that the temptation sometimes must have come to him with no little strength, to cease from the endeavour to maintain fellowship with the Churches in Judea, amongst whom his doctrines seem to have made little, if any progress.

"So far from yielding to this temptation, we find Paul habitually seeking, as opportunity offered, to strengthen the ties between himself and his brethren at Jerusalem.

"Is there a famine in Judea?  We find him exhorting the Gentile Churches to collect money, and he devotes time and care to seeing that these contributions are safely sent to those in need of them.  He seems to have realized that the manifestation of practical kindness will often go much further to disarm prejudice and overcome opposition than the most dexterous use of logic and other weapons drawn from the armoury of the controversialist.

"This brings us to the second expression employed in our text as descriptive of God, namely, the God 'of consolation.'  This latter word in the original conveys the idea of the ministry of the Paraclete, the one who will stand by another to strengthen, support and comfort in the manifold trials of life.

"In order to act thus towards those who differ from us, there is, indeed, need of Divine grace in the heart.  We are not only to bear with what we conceive to be mistakes and opposition of others; we are, as we have opportunity, to be actively kind towards them, to stand by them in their difficulties.  By so doing, we shall often find that their hearts and their minds have become opened in a way that would otherwise be quite impossible.

"Again as those who differ from us perceive that our minds are open to receive, with respect and consideration, such facts and arguments as they may be led to bring forward, it will become easier for them to adopt a similar attitude towards ourselves.

"If, on the other hand, our minds are virtually closed against the possible reception of further light, this will inevitably re-act upon those whom we are endeavoring to influence.

"It is true of us all that we only know in part, and it is through practical willingness to profit by the ministry of the Holy Ghost through others, that we shall be led into an apprehension of the truth at once clearer and more comprehensive than before.

"We need to subject ourselves the one to the other in the fear of Christ.  The opposite attitude, which, in effect, says to our brother, 'I have no need of thee,' and which engenders more or less contempt and impatience towards their arguments, will certainly result in loss of light to ourselves and loss of power to minister to our brethren in respect of matters under discussion.

"It is well to wait patiently for one another and to cultivate a sincerely teachable spirit that is willing to learn from others.  Thus, and thus alone, will God's people be brought into a like-mindedness that is 'according to Christ Jesus.'"