But God has not called us towards other people; in fact God wants to deliver us from other people—that we may have life to the fullest measure.  No, God has called us heavenward, towards Him.  ^“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men” (Romans 14:17).  One man waters, another plants, but it is God who makes things grow (1 Corinthians 3.7).  All glory goes to God.   God has called us not only to live in peace with one another, but to agree and be united in one heart and mind (1 Corinthians 1.10, 7.15; 1 Peter 3.8).  So, we must set or minds and hearts on things above, for Christ is our purpose.  We must chose not to feed into other people, but to be autonomous.  So that we will base our faith on our relationship and love for God rather than those around us who may come short of God’s glory and disappoint us.  A is ship made to sail on water and through water, until water seeps inside.  Likewise God anoints us for the oceans storms that lie ahead, and we sail across if we don’t let others seep into us.  Do not misunderstand me on this bothers and sisters; I am not saying that we should close ourselves up from others, but that we should absolutely have our own distinct identity, and not allow others influence how we feel about God.  So that when our bishops, elders, deacons, and other church leaders fall short of the glory of God; our boat will not be rocked by all the waves.  And we can stay faithful to what God has called us to do and to be.