SATAN’S SUBTLE STRATEGY

                I am about to enter a mine field. The ground before me is dangerous and can easily explode in my face. I want to address the issue of in-fighting within the Body of Christ. I believe this is one of Satan’s subtle and most powerful weapons against the Church. When unbelievers see us throwing stones at one another, it turns them away from the Gospel and away from Christ.

                I believe in the truth of God’s word. I believe that we should be students of God’s word. There are times when we must challenge and correct one another, in humility and love. Paul challenged Timothy to lead others into the truth of Christ.

                In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. 2 Timothy 4:1-2

                There is also room for honest disagreement about the meaning and application of God’s word. Paul trusted Christ to sort out the different approaches we take to God’s word.  All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Philippians 3:15-16

                I was recently confronted with the issue of Christians finding fault with other Christians because they don’t see things exactly the same way. I confess that this saddens me. We have been called to encourage and build one another up in the faith. When we choose to find fault with one another, in a public forum, we undercut the bond we have in Christ.

                We often justify our criticism of others because they are not from our group. We look at them as not faithfully representing the cause of Christ, because their approach is different from our own. Jesus and his disciples faced this very situation in Mark 9:38-41. John expected to be praised by Jesus for his defense of their group. Jesus saw it differently.

                "Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us." "Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us. I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.”

                Jesus refused to criticize this outsider for acting under His authority. If what that person did glorified God, then it advanced the purposes of Christ, even though the man was not part of the “in” group.

                The Bible is clear that our unity is to be around Jesus and our obligation is to encourage and build up one another. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:8-11

                In contrast, the Bible also tells us to stop saying negative things about one another. Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. James 4:11

                We do not have to all agree on every point of theology to be united in Christ. There are certain basic truths that are essential and cannot be compromised; such as the authority of the Bible and salvation by faith through Jesus alone.  There are many areas of understanding and application where we have the freedom to disagree. This does not put us outside to the camp, so to speak. This is where we are called on to treat one another with grace.

                Paul clearly addressed this issue in Romans 14: 1-4. Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

                When we choose to throw stones at one another, because we disagree on some item of theology, we play right into Satan’s hands. Instead of advancing the cause of Christ, we divert energy to unhelpful and often destructive activities. Bottom line, our goal as believers is not to criticize others, but to help each other to grow in our faith. We are to do this with gentleness and restraint, for none of us have the corner on the truth.

                It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

                Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Ephesians 4:11-16