Issue 751 – Conflict – May 21, 2022
The church continues to face struggles stemming from the fallout from the virus that shall not be named. At least it does in Canada.
When the various levels of government decreed restrictions on how, when, and even if the local church could meet, it brought about huge divisions. Some congregations refused to comply with the legislators, while others did comply and did their best to meet electronically, in small groups or in any way they could.
Each side was convinced they were acting biblically and called to act according to conscience. The issue stems from the fact that many people on both sides of the fence demonized the other and still do. Like a pair of rampaging bull elephants, they batter one another.
My friends, that should not be so. It is possible to have diverse opinions on various issues and still be faithful body parts.
I understand that there are good and godly men and women on both sides of the fence on every issue. We are called to be united in Spirit and love, but that does not mean we will agree on everything. That is okay, and we must stick to our convictions. On the flip side, however, we must also be willing to examine our beliefs, to understand what we are convicted about and to know that we know. If, in writing Gleanings, I have sometimes caused you to stop and think about what you believe and why, then my job as a teacher is done, even if we never agree on the issues.
Too often, someone holds a conviction about a Biblical issue simply because someone taught it to them. They have neither undertaken a study of the Scriptures for themselves to see what the Bible says on the subject nor to work through the ramifications of their position.
No matter who the Bible teacher is, including me, we need to go to the Word for ourselves and work it through. We are all humans, striving to understand the truth to the best of our ability, as led by Holy Spirit. We are not infallible; that falls on the shoulders of God alone. Still, we must not be lazy about what we are taught and absorb it unquestionably.
We live in a fantastic age. There are a plethora of Bible study tools available on the internet for free. You can compare translations, study the Greek and Hebrew meaning of the words, and consult theological dictionaries, commentaries and concordances at the touch of a button. The layman can access more resources than even the most prominent seminary had in their library just a generation ago.
With the available resources, we should be the most Biblically literate generation of all times; instead, I suspect we are one of the least familiar with what the Bible teaches.
Interestingly enough, there is no passage in the Bible that I can write about without being controversial in someone’s opinion. Even on the simplest, most basic, universally accepted (within the Christian church) passages, some will disagree. Sometimes the argument is articulate and well thought out. Other times I wonder how in the world anyone in their right mind could come up with that person’s particular line of thinking.
We must not be afraid of controversy in our search for truth. The mark of a true Christian community isn’t found in absolute unity on every issue but in a Christ-loving community that exemplifies forgiveness and reconciliation.
We can disagree vehemently on issues, but we must still love one another. We are good at the first part of that equation as believers but often forget the second part.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:34-35
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. 1 John 4:7-12
Two things have often hampered the church and its witness. Firstly, many preachers will not tackle the things that people need to hear to avoid ruffling feathers. Secondly, the church people have often forgotten to respond in love when they disagree.
Until next time, even when we disagree, may we remember to love one another.
Hallelu Yah (Praise God)
Be blessed.
Kevin.
Gleanings From The Word.
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (for the glory of God alone.)
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the English Standard Version (ESV). Spelling modified to Canadian English as required.
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