When Goodwill is Paramount

Hatred stirs up conflict,
but love covers over all wrongs.
(Proverbs 10:12 NIV)

How can "love cover-up all wrongs": is love blind, innocent, forgiving, or what? How has this happened to you? (Serendipity Bible Fourth Edition, page 886).

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In my Bible study class there is a wonderful and loving lady named Nadine. She has voiced the opinion that she fully accepts that the account in Genesis is literally true and that the earth was created in seven calendar days.  I believe that mankind appeared on the earth some 300,000 years ago. Now does this difference divide us? Such a question shows no understanding of our Christian fellowship in which goodwill is an irresistible and driving force. In this context the question is absurd.  Clearview Methodist is a church founded and anchored in Christ's love. Such an infinitesimally small matter as differences of opinion comparatively speaking has no force whatever compared to the love of God present in a body of believers. Love is not blind for it serves set priorities; it is not innocent for it shares in the suffering of Christ; in this case it is not forgiving for there is nothing to forgive. Love doesn't cover up all sources of conflict, but it outflanks and neutralizes them.  When we argue over Scripture, it too often is neither more nor less than an attempt to be greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  Jesus sadly acknowledged this all too human desire sometimes expressed even among his disciples, but he in no way endorsed it.

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