Church Snakes

I know that some of you are thinking this post will be about those sects of Protestantism that believe in actually handling live snakes.  But, you'd be mistaken.  This post is about snakes much more spiritually deadly.

At the end of Romans, his letter to a healthy church, Paul gives one last warning.

You know how it is in real life.  As you are leaving, you reiterate the most important points:
"Make sure you turn off the iron!"  (I never iron, but I did come home from class last night to find I had left the oven burner on, smh...)
"Get your chores done!"
"Be safe!"
"I love you!"

So, what does Paul say in his last words to the Roman church?
He tells them to watch out for the church snakes.

17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught;avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites,[f] and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. 19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.

Romans 16:17-19

This is how snakes behave.  They see you, and immediately come up to you, extend a hand (as if they had hands!), and say, "Good to meet ya, Bro!"  HAHA, NO!  Snakes don't behave this way.  In fact, if you aren't watchful, you are upon one before you even know it, and it has bitten you on the leg.  They lie in wait, and if they perceive you to be a threat, they strike out.

The unbelieving world has this expectation (it fits their favorite narrative) that all people who go to a God-fearing, Bible-preaching church (or any other "Christian" church, for that matter) are actually Christians!  Not so.  Going to church does not make you a Christian any more than going to Burger King makes you a Whopper (paraphrased from Keith Green, among others). In most every church body, you have numerous true Christians - - the believe it and live like it.  There are also many CINOs in most every church (Christians in Name Only).  In addition, there is a "whole 'nuther" group of actual Christians, who are living in carnality, living according to the flesh, allowing themselves to be used by the Devil to carry out snake-ish maneuvers.

Here is a list of such slithery, wily ways.
They/They are:

• cause divisions (include gossipers, tale-bearers, and rumor-mongers here)
• create obstacles (thwarting the church's mission/programs, etc.)
• teach/promote false doctrine
• smooth, persuasive talkers 
• flatterers
• deceivers
• prey upon the "baby Christians" (the naive)
• evil

Keep in mind - - - Paul is not describing "the unchurched" or "the unbelieving world" or "the scoffers" here!  Frightening, isn't it?  It is to me.  Unfortunately, some of Satan's most potent tools are people who wear the garb of a Christian, then act anything but.  It's all part of the warfare, Y'all.

What should be our response to these folks in our midst?
First, as Paul admonishes us here, we should be watchful and wise in our assessment of others in the church.
So far, so good.  We can usually get this far.  After that, it breaks down.
Every situation is different, requiring discernment and a tailored approach.  But generally we really do a very poor job of getting to the root of the problem and getting it fixed.  Because of this, we see these results:

• church splits
• pastors being "run off"
• members leave ("the church dance" - - pirouetting from one church to another) 
• etc.

Ugly, Ugggggllleeee!  And, what does "the world" think then?  They think that our gospel is a bunch of hooey; that's what!

I tell you truly....if the Church would earnestly practice these next 3 verses, the world would be transformed.

31Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 4:31-32

23So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Matthew 5:23-24

15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.  

Matthew 18:15-17

Ok, so, that last one is a harsh remedy; but truly, it rarely ever gets to that last point, if we shed our pride and commit to doing the processes that come before it!

See, the obstacle to reconciliation and peace in the church is pride.  The "snakes" slither around and do what they do because they are puffed up with pride, and the faithful fail to address situations correctly, because even they are afflicted with it too.  Pride makes us "stuff things down" until an explosion is imminent.  And, when that explosion occurs, there are almost always unintended consequences.  Detritus and muck fly all over, soiling the guilty as well as the innocent..

Nobody ever said this life of walking by faith, practicing love, imitating Jesus Christ would be easy. Instead, we were promised that the very nature of the gospel would be divisive - - - to divide the believing from the unbelieving, not to divide the faithful from each other. (Matt. 10:35-38)
We serve a God of peace, not a god of discord.  This is why in Romans 16:20 Paul reminds them that the peace of God is the antidote to sinful pride and that His supernatural peace will crush Satan every single time we put it on as an offensive weapon. (Ephesians 6:15)

Lord God, I pray that Your people will march onward, pursing peace in their local church families, being ever watchful for divisions and prideful eruptions, so as to slay them with the love of Christ. Teach us how to practice forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration, Lord, in order to show the world what Your life-changing gospel can do!  In Jesus' name, amen.

Bites

My post is delayed today because of early morning work obligations.  And, after those were done I attended a wonderful lunch with several ladies from our Sunday School class.  Periodically, we get together for fellowship outside the class.  Our husbands actually do better than we ladies do - - they get together almost every Monday morning for breakfast!  At any rate, the food and fellowship were wonderful.  Good bites!

Galatians 5:15 talks about a very different kind of biting, not a good kind.  Unlike the wonderful fellowship I described above, there are times when Christians bite each other and even chew each other up.  This was happening in the Galatian church.

For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?

Galatians 5:14-15

Apparently, so much contention had erupted in that body of believers they were turning on one another in attempts to solve their problems.  Freedom in Christ is not the freedom to mistreat others. Paul was warning them of the very real danger of chewing each other to pieces.  In other words, if they did not stop, and begin to deal with one another lovingly, they would have no local church left. And, then where would they be?

Have you ever had someone, perhaps someone new to your church fellowship, ask you about the church's history?  As I think back over the histories of most churches I've attended over a lifetime, I could tell you some stories.  I'm thinking of one church that has now almost disappeared.  Forty years ago, it was vibrant!  Only a handful of people are in the pews/chairs now.

You see, this biting and devouring wasn't just a characteristic of the Galatian church.  Pride can creep in to any body of believers and cause dissension.  Honest disagreements are not bad, in and of themselves.  But, when some believers are more influenced by their own self-righteous pride than by the Holy Spirit and Bible, trouble ensues.  This is not disagreement that can be worked through by prayer, by listening honestly to others' opinions and doing so with an attitude of humility.  This painful biting, scratching, kicking and screaming lead to church splits.

Even worse than carnal Christians, our pews are sometimes occupied by people who claim to be Christians but are not.  Just saying you are a Christian doesn't make you one.  Just possessing an intellectual belief in Jesus doesn't make you one either.  These are people who are deliberately, unreservedly practicing sin in their lives, whether it is hidden sin or obvious sin.  Paul warns that those who insist on living in sin are not Christ's own, regardless of their "testimony" (5:21).

Paul then goes on to describe the ways, attitudes and practices of those in whom the Holy Spirit dwells (5:22-26).

We are wise to guard our thoughts, our lips and our associations with others who claim the name of Christ.  Our goal should be for all of our words, thoughts and actions to lovingly proclaim the truth, in order to minister to others and bring honor to Christ.

Father, guide us by Your Spirit and by your Word.  Let love govern all our ways.  Reveal to us when we are biting, scratching and clawing.  Don't let us get away with condescending verbal jabs at our brothers and sisters.  If truly we are Yours and Your Spirit lives in us, may we walk in Him, live like Him, love like Him. In Jesus' name, amen.

Of W.A. Trotman

Good morning,

When you get my age sometimes you really have to stop and think (especially at this time of morning).  So, I was thinking, "Who DID baptize me?"  Then, I remembered!  It was in August of 1967, at Moss's Mill in the Hollingsworth community, after an August revival.  This particular summer revival was preached by my home church pastor, Rev. W.A. Trotman.  I don't know if our little church was too cheap to bring in a visiting pastor or not....Regardless, I distinctly remember both the night I threw my lot in for Jesus and also the hot, hot afternoon I was baptized.  Our text this morning is 1 Corinthians 1:10-17.

10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. 16 Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

Paul is beginning to "dig in" here and address the specific issues going on in the church of Corinth. He names as the most fundamental issue that the church had begun to be divided according to who had baptized whom.  And, what, most likely was at the root of that?  Pride.  "Well, I was baptized by Paul!"  "Did you know that Apollos baptized me?"  And so forth.  Stinky, old pride!  It is no accident that we read in Proverbs 16:18 (NKJV) - - -

Pride goes before destruction,

And a haughty spirit before a fall.

Bible-believing ministers today do not baptize in their own name, heaven forbid!  (If you are in a church where that is done, you'd better run...and FAST!)  Most often, the minister who is baptizing a new convert says something similar to this:
"Based on your profession of faith, I baptize you, my (brother or sister) in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Buried in the likeness of His death, raised to walk in newness of life."
At least, that is what is spoken in the Baptist denomination.  But, the most key point is that the person is baptized in the Name that most accurately describes our Triune God, Father, Son, Spirit, not in the name of a man, which seems to have been occurring in the Corinthian church.

So, senseless, prideful divisions have been the trend in local congregations since the early church, have they not?  That does not make such behavior Christ-honoring.  It is not hard to see how these prideful divisions led to a fractured gospel and to the people diving off into further sin.

Today, we still tend to have divisions in the local church, and should pray to the Lord that these be minimized, for the glory of God (rather than for the glory of man).  Even worse, we have many Christian denominations, some who have a less-accurate interpretation of the Scriptures than others. For example, whether to "sprinkle" or "pour" in baptism is less an issue than whether we should worship the Virgin Mary and pray to her.

The more opaque the Scriptures are about a teaching, the greater the propensity for divisions and spiritual pride.  An example of this would be "when the Rapture will occur", or even if there will BE a Rapture (some believe that).  I think that is fine to study the Scriptures and form an opinion.  But, remember, the Pharisees completely missed the Savior, and they studied the Scriptures harder than anyone (supposedly).  So, I think that a heaping helping of humility is called for when the Scriptures are not perfectly clear.

One thing we must be clear on is this:  there is one gospel, and that is the saving gospel of God's grace toward us, only through His Son, Jesus Christ.  Grace which leads to us putting our total faith in Jesus Christ's finished work: faith plus....nothing.  Let's all "speak" that and be of one mind (vs. 10).

You know, I was reading the other day and was rather appalled to discover that some Bible teacher was putting forth that Peter preached one gospel of Jesus Christ and that Paul preached another. (SMH - - - which, for the uninitiated means "shaking my head".)  This is not of God, Y'all.  This is the very thing that Paul was warning against in this passage!

Spiritual discernment followed by obedience with humility and brotherly love lead to unity.  Yes!

Father, You and I both know that zeal for my Savior can sometimes be contaminated by pride.  I know it better than most.  Help us to be watchful of that horrible, sinful pit and to recognize when we are about to step (or have stepped) into it.  Lift us out, by Your strong arm, and forgive us for when our pride has harmed our relationship with You and caused division in Your Body, the Church. In Jesus' name, amen.