If you a Christian and you think church is without problems, you are badly mistaken. It's like telling someone, "Believe in Jesus and life will be a bed of roses". It will not be. Life will still have its ups and downs, but Jesus will carry you safely through it all.
It is the same for the body of believers - the church. It will have its ups and downs. Why? Because ever since the fall of man, man has become the source of their own problems. Pride, anger, jealousy and everything wicked under the sun has blazed its way across the face of the earth; even the church. The devil has not stop prowling for victims to devour (1 Peter 5:8) and many have been eaten up. A church that is unable to recognize the devil's stroke behind every fights, quarrels and splits will stay that way forever - a defeated church. One that fights the flesh only and see not the wicked powers behind it (Eph 6:12)
My friends, factions are not something new in the 21st century. There was much division in the Corinthian church as described by Paul in his letter to them. It has happened then, and has been happening ever since. Have you not heard of factions and church splits? Humans are the cause of the problem. Or should I more accurately say, "UNGUARDED Christians" and "IMMATURE Christians" are the cause of such problems. We will be wise to first acknowledge the problem of fights and quarrels as a reality in a community of human beings - believers or not. And any Christian, whether mature or not, can fall victim into the ploy of the devil if he is unguarded. That is to say, he did not go before God with regards to what he is feeling, hearing, thinking and deciding when a matter gets really fiery. It is dangerous. An immature Christian can be worse off - he is easy meat for the devil's scheme because he is unable to distinguish the good from evil. (Heb 5:12-14)
Do not be mistaken. I am not saying those who are involved in a fight or quarrel are always doing wrong. There may be valid "fights", "quarrels" or "contention" (Gal 2:11, Acts 15) But many a times, church fights are unnecessary. What is worse, and the thing that saddens me most, are those who dragged themselves into the fray. By their own choice, they enter into the fight not knowing every detail, yet getting upset, angry and building hatred over a matter 'out-of-their-own-reach'. If hatred, bitterness and mistrust are the fruit you get in your involvement in a church fight, it is time to get out of it before you destroy yourself. You can be sure you have been sucked into it by your own self-righteousness and the devil. Do not give the devil a foothold(Eph 4:26-27)
Always guard your heart(Prov 4:23) and make every effort to live in peace with everyone (Rom 12:17-18, Heb 12:14). During a fight, show proper support to a brother by encouraging and spurring him to love and to do good works(Heb 10:24-25), and NOT "encourage" him by putting down other people and getting angry together with him - that doesn't help.
So then, let us not be foolish or ignorant of the devil's schemes(2 Cor 2:10-11). And do right in whatever situation, whether it be a church fight or a family quarrel(Phil 1:27). The Lord bless you.
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2 comments:
Church fights are deeply upsetting and frustrating and hurting, and it always help to know that the Sovereign God will still carry out his purpose to bless all the nations through his church, and our weaknesses, wickedness and failures will not prevent His purpose from prevailing.
Hi blogpastor,
I agree with you. Church fights and splits are deeply frustrating and hurting. Many Christians have been disillusioned by it. The unfortunate thing is that many Christians have not learned about the reality of this issue that a church may face. And with a weak theology of God's sovereignty, His church and His mission, it is not easy for those who have faced this problem(especially for the first time or countless time) to move on in their walk.
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