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Dissension

There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours our lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. (Proverbs 6:16-19 NIV)

Let’s look at these things the Lord hates again.

• Arrogance is number one on the list. God is concerned about high self-esteem: “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought…” (Romans 12:3 NIV).

• Lying is numbers two and six. “A lying tongue” is speaking of a habitual liar.

• “A false witness” is perjury; it’s lying under oath.

• Murder of innocent people is number three. This murder is a special kind of murder. It includes abortion (innocent blood).

• Premeditated evil is number four.

• Immediate, unpremeditated evil is number five.

• Sowing discord among brothers is number seven.

Although these are all very common today, it is to the last I would like to draw your attention. Stirring up dissension may be unintentional or it may be the result of gossip. It is the cause of church splits, family fights and unhappy communities. It is communication made up of lies, half-truths, and innuendoes and is communicated about people instead of to the people.


(An excerpt from On Being a Christian, p.184)

Comments

Anonymous said…
We have stirred up dissension by pointing out what we see as sin amongst the eldership of our church: allowing young church members to bring their non-Christian boyfriends/girlfriends in to the fellowship and have them happily accepted. We have stirred up dissension by homeschooling our children, by keeping them in the service instead of letting them go to Sunday school (operates up to age 14/15), by being different. We do not feel part of the church to which we belong as members. We are not guiltless, but we have on one to counsel or support us.
7:00 AM
Jameswilson said…
Certainly I support not accepting members into the church who are not born again.

2. Your decision to homeschool.
3. Your decision to have your children with you in the church services.
4. You being different.

These should not be causes of dissension.

Is the Church an evangelical church? Does the church require members to be born again with evidence of new life? Or does it require a testimony or a signed statement of faith? Or baptism? Do the elders think these boyfriends/girlfriends are saved? Why? Why do you think they are not saved? Is the dissension on your part? Are you looking for a flight by being superior concerning homeschooling, children in the church service, being different? Do you make others feel guilty?

Fellowship is described in 1 John 1:3-7.

We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete. This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:3-7 (NIV)

If fellowship is not there it means the saints are not walking in the light. Their sins are not forgiven. Please send me your e-mail address and your mailing address. I will send four small books.

How to be Free from Bitterness, Continual Joy, Unity, Repentance and Restitution

e-mail me at ccm@moscow.com.
6:05 PM
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