Scripture Reference: Acts 15:6-41; Galatians 2:11-14

Why So Much of It?

Yet, you might ask, “Isn’t love supposed to be the distinguishing mark of a believer? Aren’t we commanded to live together in peace and unity? Why, then, is there so much conflict, especially in the church?” There are, I believe, several explanations.

First, it is due to our sinful nature. Even though the church is made up of people who have been redeemed and given a new nature in Christ, the old sinful nature is still in us and keeps asserting itself (Romans 7:19-20). When we became born-again, we enlisted in a war (whether we knew it at first or not) that goes on in the spirit against our old human nature.

The writer of James cuts to the heart of this issue when he asks, “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?” (James 4:1). Notice that James, asks and answers, his own question. Clearly, conflict has its roots in our sinful nature.

Larry McSwain, an ordained minister and teacher of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, wrote:

Is conflict [in the church] necessary, then? Yes, because sin has made its impression upon all persons. Must it be so prevalent in the church? Yes, for the church is a community of sinners being saved by grace. It has not yet been redeemed in God’s future kingdom.

Satan is the ultimate source of confusion and conflict as he appeals to our sinful nature. The apostle Paul urged believers to forgive one another and be reconciled to one another, “Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Corinthians 2:11). The word device in the Greek means “strategies” or “plans of attack.” Satan uses divisiveness as one of his chief weapons.

Someone once said, “Our tempers get us into trouble and our pride keeps us there.” The Bible wastes no time pointing out the explosive power of anger. The first mortal man born in the world, Cain, in a jealous rage killed his brother, Abel.

The first recorded conversation between procreated man and God was a warning against the destructive effects of anger. God told Cain that his anger was like a wild beast crouching at his door ready to devour him. Anger ultimately destroyed Cain and it will destroy us if it is not dealt with correctly.

Once we have become angry, our pride keeps us from admitting we are at fault, or forgiving those who hurt us. We get locked into positions and will not change. We become territorial, unreasonable, argumentative. We all have some of Cain’s temper and pride in us and we must deal with those faults or they will destroy us and possibly others as well.

Some conflict comes in the church because sadly, we have adopted the world’s standards or “business” models. Some churches look at their pastor as a chief executive officer. They hire him to produce and when he doesn’t they fire him. There are some pastors who view themselves as a corporate executive with total authority over the congregation. They often wind up being their own worst enemy.

To Be Continued

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.