A sincere and good brother in Christ recently
said to me, "I get many publications in the mail, and I see
faithful brethren dividing up and splitting the church over 'issues.'
It really bothers me." A sincere and good brother in Christ recently
said to me, "I get many publications in the mail, and I see
faithful brethren dividing up and splitting the church over 'issues.'
It really bothers me."
We were discussing the "issue" of marriage,
divorce, and remarriage (a problem that certainly afflicts the
church throughout the south-west coalfield region), and this good-hearted
and sincere brother seemed to think that we should just all agree
to disagree on the matter. I told him, "I, too, am very bothered
by all of the division and the fighting over issues. I don't like
it one bit." I have been preaching (as of August 2007) for
35 years, and I have seen and heard a lot of fighting and dividing
over the issues. It is not a good thing to see or experience.
It has always been my desire and prayer to God that all those
who are members of the church of Christ be one, as He prayed in
John 17:20-21 and as the inspired apostle commanded in 1 Corinthians
1:10-13. However, allow me to make a few observations about these
matters that may help us as we witness and go through such things.
I heard a preacher once named Roger Jackson of
Alabama. He preached a lesson called "Problems In The Church,"
and I have never forgotten his words. He began by saying that
the church is a divine institution and from heaven's standpoint
it is perfect. He then said, "But the church is made up of
human beings, and none of us are perfect." Brother Jackson's
three main points were (1) Problems Are Real. They exist, and
we should not be like the proverbial ostrich, burying our heads
in the sand and ignoring them. (2) Problems Are Revealing. They
tell who is who. When things get tough, the tough keep going.
It is the old maxim stated by football players and weight lifters,
"No pain, no gain." This principle can be seen in passages
like James 1:2-4. It is what our Lord spoke about in Matthew 13:20-21.
Some will be "offended" when "tribulation and persecution
ariseth because of the word ..." (3) Problems Are Rewarding.
Again, James 1:2-4 comes to mind. Afflictions often make us stronger
in the Lord. Take a minute to read Psalm 119:67, 71 to see that
this is a fact.
There is another thing about my brother's comment
that needs to be considered. He said, "... I see faithful
brethren dividing up and splitting the church over issues."
I kindly pointed out to him that if a brother is teaching something
contrary to the Word of God on any "issue," whether
it is marriage, divorce, and remarriage, or any other matter,
he has ceased being a "faithful brother." Now, he may
be sincerely mistaken and misguided, but so are many among the
denominations, right? If he has "erred from the truth,"
he is in need of conversion for he is lost and is leading others
toward hell. (James 5:19-20). If this one will not repent of his
false position(s), he must be marked and avoided. (Romans 16:17-18;
2 John 9-11).
Yes, indeed, it is a terrible thing to witness
division among the people who claim to be Christians. It should
not be! However, we must never, never descend to the depths of
the sectarians who espouse "unity in diversity." In
matters of opinion and judgment, we can disagree and have liberty.
In matters of doctrine, we must have a "thus saith the Lord."
I do indeed understand my brother's hurt when he sees those who
may have once been one in the Lord now divided into factions.
However, Paul's words still ring true, "For there must be
also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made
manifest among you." (I Corinthians 11:19).
When men depart from what the Word of God teaches
on any matter and gather a following, they are the troublers,
not the ones who earnestly contend for the faith! (Galatians 1:6-10;
Jude 3). -P.O. Box 285, Crum, WV 25669. Email: preechkrum@suddenhink.net