If your mom was anything like mine, you grew up with the adage if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. One of those lessons we learn early and often forget later in life. I know I’ve struggled at times to swallow back things best left unsaid. I was recently convicted by the Holy Spirit to take it a step farther—if you aren’t willing to say it to someone’s face, don’t say it at all. The key component of this is to speak to the person with which we have an issue face-to-face (not behind their back), and always with the love and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Social media has made it all too easy for people to hide behind their device of choice and spout off opinions in a most ungodly fashion. I’d like to say these are people who don’t identify themselves as Christians, but sadly that’s not so. We have become a nation divided by political agendas and our own exalted positions of authority in areas that are too convoluted to entirely understand. Too often, there is no grace or respect for those who hold opinions with which we disagree.
I can just picture the enemy rubbing his hands together in glee as we fall prey to his agenda.
We are used to this behavior in the secular world, but what breaks my heart is the divisiveness we see in the church. Maybe I’m naïve, but I always expect more from my brothers and sisters in Christ. And yet, there is no end of those who call themselves Christians but seem to take delight in causing strife. These are people who will cause members of the church to divide over one issue or another.
Jesus said, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls.” Luke 11:17.
I’ve said it before in my blog posts, but it bears repeating—we are in a spiritual battle. It’s those of us who love the Lord against the rest of the world. We cannot have a foot in each camp; it’s one or the other. If we are not warriors for Christ, then we’re Satan’s minions. It only takes one divided person in the church to open the door to the enemy—and we’re doomed. And I’m not just talking about our personal congregation. We are all the church of Jesus Christ whether Lutheran, Protestant, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, or any other denomination that claims Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Proverbs 6:16-19 says, There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.
It’s clear from God’s Word that one who sows discord is on par with those who shed innocent blood. Think about that a minute. Murder is on the same level as one who stirs up divisiveness in the church. That certainly gives me pause. Each of us may be guilty of such behavior on occasion. After all, we are all sinners. But the divisive person is the one who is often at the helm of a dispute or discord. When things get stirred up, this person or persons, is at the center most every time.
Paul exhorts us in Romans 16:17-19, I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
Paul tells us to avoid those who cause such issues. Do not be pulled in by their smooth talk. Should we rebuke them with grace and love? Absolutely. But more often than not, those who have a propensity for such behavior will not be convicted to repent; they feel justified to speak their minds to whomever will listen. Unknowingly, they’re Satan’s mouthpiece and under the Lord’s watchful eye. Paul reminds us in verse 20 that The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.
It helps me to know that though we may be helpless in such situations, the Lord is not. Nothing is hidden from Him. Of course, that’s also a reminder for me to be aware of my own thoughts and speech. We may think we’re all that and a bag of chips, but God sees the truth of our depravity even when we don’t.
Comments 1
This is a good reminder to us all.