Acts 15:28-35

Thankfully, this theological crisis was averted. Not that there would not be more challenges to come, but at this juncture the Gospel was able to spread with relative peace from within the ranks. There will always be opposition from unbelievers, but one of the hallmarks of the Christian faith is our love and unity.

Unity, however, is not uniformity, and many have made—and continue to make—that mistake. People do not need to do things exactly as you do them. Our relationships with the Lord are personal, and the Holy Spirit works uniquely in each of our lives according to our individual makeup, circumstances, and needs. Some people attempt to impose their personal convictions on others, which can create problems as they try to play the role of the Holy Spirit in someone else's life.

Just because God is dealing with you about something does not mean He is dealing with everyone else about that same issue. It is important for us to stay in our own lanes.

It is similar to when I gave golf lessons. There are basic principles that apply to everyone, but there are also personalized instructions given according to each person's specific swing issues. For one golfer, I might have to give advice that is the exact opposite of what I would tell someone else because of where they are positioned.

For instance, one golfer may be hitting the ball too far left because of a grip issue. In that case, they need to rotate (weaken) their grip slightly to the right on the club during setup (this tip is for right-handed players). For another golfer who is hitting the ball to the right of the intended target, the opposite may be true. They may need to strengthen their grip by rotating their hands slightly to the left on the club. The same principle applies to stance, alignment, and many other aspects of the swing.

Now imagine what would happen if those two golfers compared notes without understanding the context. Each would think the other was wrong when, in reality, both were receiving the exact instruction they needed.

The same is true in our walk with God. There are not two of us who are exactly alike. We are each uniquely created, and thank God we have the Holy Spirit to guide us individually along the path He has chosen and designed for our lives and His purposes. Be careful not to compare yourself with others. There will be differences, and that is okay. Different is not wrong—it is simply different.

As the elders so wisely wrote, they focused on affirming a few essential matters: abstaining from food offered to idols, from blood and the meat of strangled animals, and from fornication, or sexual immorality. In golf language, they focused on the basics—grip, stance, and alignment. The rest they placed into the capable hands of the Holy Spirit, their Instructor, trusting Him to work in each believer's life as needed and in His perfect timing.

The church is strongest when it remains united around the essentials while allowing the Holy Spirit the freedom to shape each believer's journey. Maturity is not measured by how closely others resemble us, but by how faithfully we follow Christ ourselves. When we trust the Holy Spirit to do His work in others, we free ourselves to focus on the work He is doing in us.