| Whatsoever
Things Are True
by Dan Coburn Pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church pastordan@mtida.net "Give me something I can use preacher" What do we all have in common? I mean what every single one of us has in common w/out regard to social status, religious beliefs, denominational affiliation, age, wealth, sex (determined not chosen), geography etc - etc. Think you've got it? It's Confrontation aka - turmoil, disagreements, strivings, controversy, fighting, enemies, punchin buddies etc - etc. These manifest themselves via anger, short tempers, feuds, gossip, slander, wrath, malice, evil speaking, back-biting, and before you skip this article altogether, I want to tell you w/out qualification that You, right now, are in the middle of one or more of these. You can argue that you are right and the object of your anger or disappointment is wrong, you can rationalize that they are "wronger" than you, but before you leave, just admit you are dealing with one or many strivings (probably even involving family) and you may be dismissed while the rest of us examine God's way of conflict resolution. The formula for God Approved conflict resolution is found in Matt. 18, vs 15 and following. The meat of it is this. If your brother offends (sins against) you, go to him one on one and tell him. This will enable one of three outcomes. 1) He will say: "Oh, you are right. That was wrong of me. Please forgive me". Result = reconciliation. 2) "Oh, I can see where you would think that of me, but that's not what happened. Let me explain". Result = reconciliation. 3) "That's right, that's what I said/did and I meant it, and I aint sorry". Result = not reconciliation, but you have done your part and now have the peace that comes with a clear conscience. The next step is forgiveness. Forgiveness is commanded. Not when the person says he's sorry or sees the error of his ways (this may never happen), but immediately. Nugget: Forgiveness requires only your obedience. Reconciliation requires two. You are responsible for forgiveness, but not for reconciliation. This also doesn't mean you have to be BFFs. You can totally forgive but don't have to subject yourself to a painful or injurious relationship. On to the next step. If your brother won't hear (respond positively) to you, you should involve others, then even the Church. Fasten your Pewbelt. This entire section deals only with Sin. Especially that which will bring a dark stain on the Church or the name of Jesus. If then, your brother just simply let you down, didn't meet up with your un-spoken expectations, hurt your feelings, disagreed with you, you are commanded to Love him. That's it. The Big Disconnect happens when we elevate personal feelings to the level of Doctrinal Issues. Another disconnect is when we jump from step 1 to step 33, and without ever talking to the object of our anger or disappointment, we go on a Godless campaign on the internet and say terrible, untrue, vague and hurtful things without ever taking step one which was for the purpose of --- wait for it -- reconciliation. God cannot bless this, and absent repentance, you are on a collision course. We are again commanded to love and forgive, and opportunity for this is manifested by daily trials. In other words, God teaches us love by surrounding us with unlovable people (can I get an amen). To many, this is just crazy talk, and I can't help you. Many are their own ultimate "Truth Source". Let me tell you how this looks. I have shown people from God's own Word how they should respond to their self proclaimed enemies. They might say something like this: "I see that preacher, but I just don't agree". Or even worse,- "I see that's what God says, but I'm gonna have to pray about it". What?? Point is, you can do as you like w/regard to these things but remember that when Jesus was in the garden sweating blood and praying for you just prior to being arrested and crucified, the first and foremost thing He prayed for was unity. In fact, He places the ultimate condition on His prayer when He says: "That they all may be one as thou, Father, are in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." John 17:21 Did you catch the last part? If you regard your petty pride and anger more than the mission of Jesus, carry on; but He says you are the stumbling block to the gospel Itself. The world won't believe God sent His Son as long as you can't/won't love your brother. This is the tip of the iceberg. Next week, we'll examine some underlying truths. God forgive us. |
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