For the next three days L.A. went up in flames. The National Guard was deployed. Stores were boarded up, others burned down. Amid the cacophony of confusion and chaos, the central figure in all of this, Rodney King went on television with an appeal. Standing outside his lawyers office on Wilshire Boulevard he pleaded, “C-c-can’t we all just get along?” It was noble gesture but the lawlessness still prevailed. Since that time his statement has etched it’s way into the fabric of everyday life.
This past week I heard this statement repeated back to me (sans the slight stutter with “can’t”). It was used by a man who was speaking with respect to religious matters. He openly recognized that differences exist, rather than seeking to find and align with Truth, he opined, “Why can’t we all just get along?” A noble sentiment to be sure, but not one that can be defended by the Scriptures.
In Paul’s epistle to the Galatians it is quite clear that there were some who were distorting the Gospel (see verses 6-9 of chapter one). It would have been easy for Paul to have adopted the philosophy of “can’t we all just get along”, but what he goes on to set forth in verses 10-12 of chapter one, shows his hands were tied. “If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.” (v 10)
“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3)
