⁸ Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble,^[a]9 not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing. (1 Peter 3:8-9 ESV)

It is no simple task for us to repay insult and injury with blessing. In fact, if you are type A is can be very difficult indeed. But it is what we are called to do and if we can practice this we will see that we may inherit blessings and it provides an avenue for open discussion.

I can be sympathetic, loving and compassionate. Where I struggle more than not is trying to be like-minded. This often ask more of us because so much in our society today runs contrary to our beliefs. Now, I do not believe that this scripture is telling us to compromise our beliefs. It is striving to help us understand what others think and feel and creating a level of sympathy that keeps us from insulting others.

There is a fine line we must walk between holding to our beliefs and accepting others who my see the world very differently. We, as Christians, must be consummate diplomats. We must be able to hold true to scripture and beliefs while creating an open space for honest discussion on topics that run counter to scripture.

Again, it is no simple task.