Agreeing to Disagree

There were two old cowboy buddies out in the Old West, Ed and Pete. They
went into town after a hard day on the range to celebrate. As they rode into
town Ed said to Pete, "I want to go to the Long Branch Saloon; I think it's
the best." Whereas Pete said, "I want to go to the Alhambra Saloon; I think
it's the best." In response, Ed said, "Well, we'll just have to agree to
disagree".

They both went on drinking and ended up meeting later at the "The One Last
Round Saloon" in the middle of town. They began talking about the girls who
sang in the different saloons. Ed said, "Miss Kitty" is the best singer in
the state! Whereas Pete said, "NO, Miss Sarah is the best singer." To which
Ed said, "Well, we'll just have to agree to disagree".

They went on drinking for awhile and ended up out on the street where there
was an old stray cat slinking around. Ed slurred out, "I think I'm gonna
shoot me that there cat, they ain't good for nothing." However Pete said, "I
don't think you oughta do that, I kinda like cats." "Well," said Ed, "We'll
just have to agree to disagree".

Ed then reaches for his shooting iron, holds it up to his eye to aim at the
cat. Pete however grabs a tree branch from the gutter and wallops Ed across
the side of his head. Ed eventually picks himself up and dusts himself off
and says to Pete, "Why in the world did you do that, I thought we agreed to
disagree?" To which Pete replies, "Well, that worked until I noticed you
were looking into the barrel and about to pull the trigger. I'd just as soon
you didn't blow your fool head off!" Then Ed said, "Well thanks for busting
me one then," to which Pete replies, "Hey, that's what friends are for."

Application:

Throughout my almost 40 years of ministry, I've had people who tell me,
"We'll just have to agree to disagree," regarding some Bible subject or
question. Through the years I've struggled with that, because that implies
there is an area of agreement at least upon some level. Now, I'm the first
one to tell you that I don't have all of the answers and I am far too
conscious of that fact. There are however some areas that I feel especially
strongly about concerning the scriptures.

The truth is; that sometimes I can agree to disagree, when the thing we are
disagreeing about doesn't affect anyone's salvation or relationship to God.
Sometimes however I have to refuse to agree to disagree, because (in my
estimation, right or wrong) it may affect someone's relationship to God or
even their hope of eternal life.

Should you or I be expected to stand back and act if nothing is wrong (agree
to disagree) when there is a serious doubt about the issue? Notice the
warning God gives in Ezekiel 33:6. "But if the watchman sees the enemy
coming and doesn't sound the alarm to warn the people, he is responsible for
their captivity. They will die in their sins, but I will hold the watchman
responsible for their deaths."

Now here is the hard point. Most of the people who have wanted to "agree to
disagree" have told me what they think or what they feel, not what God's
Word says. You see that just doesn't work for me. I don't want someone to
come to me with "I feel" or "I think" or even an "I hope" about a biblical
issue or question, I want to know what God's Word says.

If you have a strong feeling about something, then check it out with the
authority, God. After all he wrote it down so that we can understand what he
wants for us. He really does expect us to take time to read and study what
he wrote.

Now you may have thought that Pete's treatment of Ed in the story was a
little harsh, but if someone is about to shoot themselves or be carried off
in to spiritual captivity when I could have prevented it, does agreeing to
disagree make it right? I for one would just like to "Agree" based upon what
God's word says, not what someone things or feels or hopes is true.

Think about it, just maybe you are ready to shoot the cat with the wrong end
of the gun and don't even know it. Let me encourage you to stop looking at
life through your feelings for the truth, and start trusting the Word of
God, because it IS "the truth" that will save us all, (John 17:17). I hope
you take this not as a rebuke, but as an encouragement to get into the Word
of God, because after all, "that's what friends are for".

Russ Lawson