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 Where
two or three are gathered together there is apt to be trouble. Or, so it
seems from the distressing reports we hear of the many churches
currently engulfed in turmoil and strife. There is seemingly no end to
this Satan-satisfying discord and division, not to mention the bitter
affliction it brings and leaves among God’s people. Even apart from
those problems that might be called doctrinal, many churches continue to
suffer with some form of internal strife, often to the point of biting
and devouring and division (Gal. 5:15). More often than not such
problems will be traceable to trifles that have been inflated by pride
and bad attitudes.
Consequently,
the slightest disagreement between brethren, with a little nurturing,
rehearsing, and advertising, can develop into a festering and sensitive
congregational sore. Such things as hearsay remarks, imagined
mistreatment or being “crossed” in the least way can easily become
the germs for creating an epidemic of “church” troubles. As James
writes concerning one aspect of such problems, “Behold, how great a
matter a little fire kindleth!” (Jas. 3:5). The best fire control is
spark control. Related to people, this means self-control
in the very beginning of real or imagined friction. Self-control is
essentially “keeping” the heart, from whence are the issues of life
(Prov. 4:23). It is here that potentially dangerous sparks such as evil
surmisings and vain imaginations are snuffed out; from here the sparks
of pride and tongue are easily extinguished. Ignoring the germs and
sparks of people-problems almost insures worse.
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But,
we knew all along what THEY needed and what THEY had done in walking
disorderly! If we could just get THEM to see—that’s the problem
isn’t it? NO! The problem is getting ME to see! —to see that the
first application of gospel truth must
be to SELF. Isn’t it strange that neither side of most disputes
ever entertain the idea that they might be in the wrong? —or even
partly to blame? Truly, “it is much easier to be critical than to
be correct” (Disraeli). Vision is no poorer than in the man who is
blinded to his own weaknesses. We see such a man in the
self-righteous Pharisee (Lk. 18:9-14); we see such a church at
Laodicea (Rev. 3:17). No wonder God says, “examine yourselves”
(2 Cor. 13:5). No honest man can examine another better than he can
examine himself. And only as honest men recognize and confess their
sins will the ends of truth be served.
However,
even with my best efforts there is no guarantee that I will not be
mistreated by others. What then? Do I complain loud and long and
peddle my ill will? Quit? Go elsewhere? No, there is a better
alternative; one suggested by Paul to other brethren who had been
wronged: Why not rather take wrong?” (1 Cor. 6:7)
Doing so proves one to be like Christ and acceptable with God. (1
Pet. 2:20-23) It is the proof of genuine love —the kind that
suffers long, does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not its own;
the kind that is not provoked, bears and endures all things (1 Cor.
13) and which is the bond of perfectness (Col. 3:14). What better
balm for the sores of discord? May God help ME to apply it. Dan S.
Shipley
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