Impact of Disputes

Good Morning!

I was reminded by my grandson, Cody, that today marks the 150th anniversary of the firing of the first shot in the War Between the States. Now I don’t want to get into a discussion about the War and the underlying reasons behind it. I just want to point out that it was one of the most costly of conflicts, killing and injuring hundreds of thousands of Americans. And it often pitted brother against brother – family against family. My Mom has done a lot of genealogical research and I find that it was quite possible that this was a fact in the Ward family line. I know it was a fact in Ward / Gant line as the Gants are from New Jersey and had several relatives who served for the Union forces while some of the Ward line fought for the Confederates.

I read an article yesterday on CNN that purports that the issues that divided Americans 150 years ago still exist today. Well, maybe some do – I am not totally convinced by the article. But I do know that conflict is an ever present force in society today. And, unfortunately, it is often found within the body of believing Christians.

Our Thursday night Bible study is going to begin with the following passage:

1 Corinthians 6:1-11 (New International Version, ©2011)
Lawsuits Among Believers
1 If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? 2 Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? 5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6 But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!
7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. 9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men[a] 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Footnotes:
a. 1 Corinthians 6:9 The words men who have sex with men translate two Greek words that refer to the passive and active participants in homosexual acts.

What is Paul trying to tell me? Well, I think Paul wants me to put a whole lot more effort into trying to resolve issues amongst the family of God within the family … and to be aware of the effect that a dispute not resolved peacefully has on the testimony of Christ. Look – we are brothers and sisters in Christ. Yes – we are going to have differences. Sometimes our differences will be very strong … but the underlying fact is that we are to LOVE one another. We aren’t in a contest to prove one person is right and the other person is wrong. Our enemy doesn’t sit across the aisle from us on Sunday. We are on a mission to bring people the good news that Christ loves them enough to offer Himself for them. Don’t let our arguments get in the way of the message.

There were many reasons for the War Between the States. And it was probably inevitable that the conflict would take place. But there is no reason you and I and all brothers and sisters in Christ cannot exhibit the love of Christ for each other and for the benefit of those who do not know Christ.

Have a great Tuesday!

Agape’


Mr. Jim