Speaking as a parent, I'd say one of the biggest heartbreaks is when your children live in alienation from each other. When they are small, you expect a fair amount of fracas ... because they are immature; they are children! Each one is behaving selfishly, wanting his or her own way. A former pastor used to say that anyone who has children has no trouble believing in the concept of "original sin"!
As children grow and mature, they learn how to behave unselfishly within the family; or, at least, they should. I was thinking of this as I read today's passage, Ephesians 4:1-16. Look specifically today at verses 13-16 (The Message).
...{Jesus, the One} working within Christ’s body, the church, until we’re all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God’s Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ.
14-16 No prolonged infancies among us, please. We’ll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love.
I have noticed a troubling trend in the local churches in my part of the world. A member gets upset about something and leaves. (Sometimes this is because an "imposter" has caused division and other times not.) Often, there is no attempt by the member to dig deeper and find a solution to the problem, because "the grass looks greener" elsewhere. By the same token, the attitude within the church being left is lackadaisical and prideful, if you can imagine such a combination. At first, there is hurt and offense that the brother or sister would consider leaving, and that morphs into a sort of stubborn pride that prevents them from reaching out to say, "Wait a minute...let's try to work this out." Church members are seen, by and large, as expendable. And, you have a "church divorce".
Other times, this pridefulness manifests as a critical spirit in the church. (And, if your mind just now went to one of your Christian brothers or sisters, well, then, you'd just better hold up and check your own heart. As the current commercial says, "Check yo'self, Rodney!")
Listen, brother or sister, your local church was not established by the Lord to give you everything you want or to let you have your preferences all the time! That is not its purpose! But, sometimes, unless a dear brother or sister gets his or her way, out the door they go. (You know I am not talking about confronting legitimate major doctrinal heresies, but about minor preferences.)
Focusing on Christ, our Unifier, is key. When we begin to focus on ourselves and on our differences and/or on others' faults, we move the focus off of Jesus, don't we? Humility and discipline (as mentioned in 4:3) take the nearest route out the back door. We stop exercising the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We wander off the path of our individual calling, to chase some sort of self-gratifying desire.
This prideful behavior breaks God our Father's heart (Eph. 4:30) because it is an example of "prolonged infancy" - - baby Christian behavior. Even those who are mature in the faith can exhibit it from time to time - - this includes "yours truly". The point is that we need to be watchful and wary of it, so that "imposters, wolves in the sheep pen" can be called out ... so that our local bodies of believers can "move rhythmically and easily, efficient and graceful" with each other, as we exercise our spiritual gifts.
Look at today's picture. Isn't that a beautiful scene? Young and old, celebrating together, some dancing, some clapping, some singing, some smiling, one with hands raised ... among the many expressing themselves differently, we see unity.
Paul's admonition does not only apply to local groups of Christians, but also to culturally disparate groups of believers around the world. Each locale has its own peculiar challenges, as well as customs. Here's one example of a culture juxtaposition: In many countries, it is accepted practice for a nursing mother to nurse her infant anywhere, under any circumstances. I once witnessed a nursing mother nurse her baby as the gospel was being presented to her by a group of men. Many in my country would find that behavior on her part so totally inappropriate that it would cause disunity. In a similar vein, behavior in church services has wildly different standards and appearances around the world. But, unless something in scripture is being violated ... let's retain our brotherhood and sisterhood ... our robust love for one another, so that the world will see this magnificent brotherly love, and marvel at our Savior.
Paul urged believers well in verses 1-3 (NET):
I, therefore, the prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live worthily of the calling with which you have been called, 2with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Father, we want to show this lost and broken world Your beautiful Son, Jesus, who created all that is, who became our Savior, who is the Source of everything we are as redeemed souls. Protect us from wolves, heavenly Father, namely those divisive persons who pretend to be Yours but who are not, who stroke their own pride rather than building up others for the sake of Your kingdom. Give us discernment and humility, Lord, because it does not "come naturally". Grow us up in You, Lord Jesus! Nourish us, so that we will be healthy, robustly healthy, bursting with Your love! In Jesus' name, amen.
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