AS I make a study of the early churches that the apostles created, the big difference in the church then and the church now is that we are deep in dogma and short on love, they allowed differences in interpretation other than the core of Christianity and never let differences interfere with giving love and support.
Even the Christian community that this site represents has people who have stated they are my enemy because I have interpreted a scripture differently than they did, although they say we agree on Christ in our life.
Human nature is naturally selfish. First believing God chose "you", "me", makes it deeply personal for some. As such they defend as if any thought contrary to that what makes their world fit together according to their understanding of it, and God, can appear as a threat to that balance and security.
Never discount age and maturity, or lack thereof, in those encounters. There's a really simple saying that seems obvious at first but oddly enough may escape peoples understanding. The meaning of life is to live it.
If we believe God is in control, it can become very easy to understand that meaning ever more.
By the way, anyone who claims Christ and calls you, a Christian, their enemy because you believe in a manner they disapprove, as if it is their right and should matter to you, when God is the only one for whom it should matter, is their own enemy first. You deserve better. Don't mourn the loss. They're lost enough.
2
