The Divisiveness of the Enemy

Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

Romans 15:5-7

It is a sad state of affairs when believers of God, regardless of differences in religious denominations, are seen or heard arguing over 'religious points'.  Worse still, putting each other down and condemning and cursing each other to hell. I was never so shocked in my life as when a Christian cursed me to hell because we had a difference in understanding regarding God.  This is so out of the character of God that it is downright insulting to God's essence which is love.   The bible clearly tells us

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,  Matthew 5:44

Where is the love of God in this type of behavior?  And then we wonder why the unbelievers do not believe, why the lost are still confused and why believers fall away.  We should step back from the 'rightness' of our particular religious denomination and instead embrace our commonality - our relationship with God!  We should talk about His love for us and our love of God rather than participating in vain babblings; debating points in the bible.  

But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.  2 Timothy2:16

We should talk about the realness of the place that Jesus went to prepare for us and the place that was prepared for Satan and all of his followers.  The bible tells us to have our feet shod with the preparation of peace.  We are called to be reconcilers.

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 2 Corinthians 5:18

As the word of God instructs, we preach, teach and talk about the good news of Jesus Christ.  And above all, we should live out the life that we preach, teach and talk about, we should be living examples of the word of God.  If we do these things rather than debate religious points, we will turn the backslider, the lost, the questioning and yes, even the unbeliever to the right path.  Within our particular denomination or outside our particular denomination, there is a Godly way that we are to conduct ourselves in areas of dispute.  After all, God tells us in His word:

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.   John 13:35

Romans 14:1 through 15:2 reveal believers will sometimes have differences in opinion. Such differences often arise over questionable practices not specifically dealt with in God's Word as being either right or wrong.

This passage explains that such differences will not result in harm if we love one another and continue to search the Scriptures. Romans 14 gives the following guidelines for dealing with disagreements between believers in matters not specifically covered in the written Word of God:

   Distinguish Between Matters Of Command And Freedom:

When believers differ it is important to distinguish between matters of command and freedom. Concerning matters of freedom not specifically dealt with in God's Word, Apostle Paul writes:

I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. Romans 14:14

In matters of command recorded in the written Word of God, we should all conform to the same pattern. In other matters, freedom of choice may be exercised.

   Cultivate Your Own Convictions:

You must cultivate your own convictions regarding questionable practices. In regards to observing holy days Apostle Paul wrote:

One man esteemeth one day above another; another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.  Romans 14:5

   Allow Others Freedom To Determine Their Convictions:

Even if others differ from you, allow them freedom to determine their own convictions on questionable matters:

But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why dost thou set at nought thy brother. . .  Let us not therefore judge one another any more. . .   Romans 14:10, 13

   Limit Liberty By Love:

The basic message of Romans 14:13-15:2 is that Christian liberty should be limited by love:

Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification.  Romans 15:2

We should care for other believers so much that we limit our own behavior by love for them. We should love them so much that we will not do anything that would cause them to stumble spiritually:

. . . but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.   Romans 14:13

   Resolve All Offenses:

When a brother has been offended by another believer, the word of God provides the biblical formula for resolving such offenses:

Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.  But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church; but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.   Matthew 18:15-17

The steps to follow when a brother has offended us are:

♥  Go to him privately to resolve the matter. Do not talk about the offense to others. Go directly to the one who offended you and try to resolve the matter. Pray and search God's written Word together.

♥  If he will not listen, take one or two witnesses and try again. The witnesses should be impartial believers. Elders or leaders in the church are a good choice. Take the witnesses and go to your brother and again attempt to discuss, pray, and search the Scriptures together regarding the problem.

♥  Take the matter before the church body. If, after going to your brother with a witness he still refuses to resolve the matter, take the issue before the entire church body. This should be done at the proper time. It should not be done during a regular worship service or when unbelievers are present. After hearing the matter, the decision of the church should be abided by and the problem should be resolved. If not, then the offending party is acting like the heathen and unbelievers.

Unity is always in order and to be sought after in the body of Christ.

Follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see God.  Hebrews 12:14





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