A KEY FOR
LOCAL CHURCH HARMONY AND PEACE
by
Keith Hunt
Jesus taught that people in general would know His disciples,
if, ".....you have LOVE one for another" (John 13:35). The
apostle known by many today as the "apostle of love" - John, had
quite a lot to say on the matter of brotherly love within the
community of the Church of God.
Here is just a sample. "He that says he is in the light, and
hates his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loves
his brother abides in the light......We know that we have passed
from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loves
not his brother abides in death......Beloved, let us love one
another: for love is of God......if God so loved us, we ought
also to love one another......By this we know that we love the
children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments" (!
John 1:9,10; 3:14; 4:7; 5:2).John, in his letters, mentions in some specifics, how love to others is manifested.
The apostle Paul was inspired to relate on many occasions to the churches he wrote to, what loving your brother and sister in Christ (and even those outside Christ) really meant. Here are some of his words. "Love works no ill to his neighbor......Fulfil you my joy, that you be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife of vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others" (Romans 13:10; Phil.2:2-4). The New Testament is full of instructional edification for the child of God as to what is "love one towards another." Yet, our heavenly Father knows we are still but flesh, with at times, lots of carnal nature showing up in our relations one with another as to walk and fellowship together in the spiritual body of Christ. It was no different in the days of John and Paul when they wrote the words we have just read. People, just acted way too often towards each other with carnal nature. Some knowing the liberty that they had in Christ(knowing perhaps more technical knowledge than others) were using it to bite and devour other Christians. "For, brethren, you have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another......But if you bite and devour one another, take heed that you be not CONSUMED one of another" (Gal.5:13-15). Human nature is such that in most cases when one person starts to bite and devour another in words and actions, the other comes biting and devouring back. Before long many people in a local church can be consumed with the lusts of the flesh one towards another. Paul went on from this thought to bring his famous section of Scripture on the works of the flesh and the fruits of the Spirit, verses 16-26. Paul instructed the church at Ephesus to watch careful what came out of the mouth in words to each other, and gave instructions on how to correct the situation when through the carnal flesh, wrong words to others or about others did come forth. "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God......Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be you kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you" (Eph.4:29-32). Oh yes, how such carnality of words and deeds that we may exhibit from time to time towards another Christian, GRIEVES the Holy Spirit. We all know it should not be. God and Christ know it should not be. But they also know we are still flesh and that we can fall into such sins at times.
The Father and Christ have not left us without some direct instructions on righting the situation, of hurting and offending someone, or knowing that someone has hurt or offended us. Part of correcting the situation was given by Paul in the last verse quoted above.It involves kindness, being tenderhearted, and forgiving. Jesus also gave us instructions as what to do under those "offense" circumstances that do crop up at times in any local congregation. "......if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has aught against you; Leave there your gift before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift" (Mat.5:23-24).
This is YOUR responsibility, yes, you personally are to do this, to reconcile with your brother or sister. There is nothing here about telling your troubles that you may have with a Christian brother or sister to the Eldership, so they can fix it for you. Nothing here about telling your mate so they can mend the problem for you. Nothing here about telling another church member your difficulty with someone, and asking them to reconcile the situation. If you have a problem with another Christian YOU are to "Leave there your gift before the altar, and GO YOUR WAY; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." Even under a VERY SERIOUS problem and situation that may arise between you and another in the church, a situation where finally others may have to be brought in, and where a person may have to be, if no repentance is forthcoming, a "heathen man and a publican," it is YOU and you alone, that must make the first attempt at reconciling the problem. Notice it: "Moreover if your brother shall trespass against YOU, go and tell him his fault BETWEEN YOU AND HIM ALONE; if he shall hear you, you have gained your brother" (Mat.18:15). If we want peace and harmony in the churches of God. Every member needs to fully understand what has been covered in this article. We have MANY personal responsibilities as Christians, and going personally to another brother or sister in Christ, in an effort to resolve a problem you have with that individual, is one of those many responsibilities. We should not be gossiping to others about that problem. We should not be trying to build up a football team with you as quarterback, in order to slay the nasty villain, at some ambush time. None of this carnality is to be engaged in. YOU PERSONALLY are to go to the one you have a problem with, and YOU are to try and bring about a reconciliation. It should all be done in love, all done with kindness, with a tender heart, with a readiness to forgive, or to ask the other (if you are to blame) that they will forgive you.
You need to remember that every Christian has some carnal
nature still within them, INCLUDING YOU, and you also need to
remember that every Christian, including the one who has "done
you wrong," has Jesus Christ within them, and hence some truly
good works and fruits of the Spirit. You may want to, I strongly
suggest you do, start off your conversation with this person by
telling them you appreciate some of their good strong points of
their character, their God given abilities and talents, and then
proceed to the problem you have come to reconcile.
I guarantee that if the above is followed and practiced by
every member of a local church of God, it will go a mighty long
way in having peace and love within that congregation, for this
instruction on the way to peace and love is not from the ideas of
a man, but is the word and teaching of Him who is the Prince of
peace.
SHALOM to you all.
...............................
Written August 1999
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