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Freedom By Association


Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. (Romans 12:16)

          Have you ever gone to a concert at which every singer and every instrument played middle C, only middle C? If they did so, the concert could be described as monotonous. It would be lacking in harmony. Harmony requires more than one note. When today's passage was written social stratification was much simpler than it is today. You were a citizen or you were not. You were wealthy or you were poor. You were Greco-Roman or you were either Barbarian or Jew. You were free or you were slave. You were male or you were female. In every case, you were stuck there for life and those in the "or" category were treated poorly.
          Now, there are lots more ways to be in the "or" category. Many of the earlier standards are there, but partly because some people have decided to turn the standard over, so that those who were in the "or" category are now the good people, and those who were the good people are now in the "or." In addition to all the old standards being used in both directions, there are people judged as unworthy based on their attractiveness, their intelligence, their "heart," their capabilities in just about any area, the amount of melatonin in their skin, their agreement with one political or philosophical perspective, and just about any other aspect by which we can divide a group into "us" and "them." 
      Today's passage presents only one appropriate divider. "One another" refers to those who are of the same kind. This verse refers specifically to Christians living in harmony with other Christians. Within the "us" of Christians, there is to be no "us" and "them." We are admonished to love our enemies, but not to live in harmony with them. Among Christians, we are all called to identify our "or" categories, and find ways to associate. It will free you to love as God calls you to love them,

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