A Deadly Digression
10/08/09 03:47 PM
One of the things that I love and appreciate most about our church is the fact that UNITY is valued so highly. I realize there are no perfect churches, but there are definitely healthy and unhealthy ones. And among the factors that determine whether the relational climate of a church is healthy or toxic, is how seriously (or not) we are willing to pursue those things which lead to peace (Rom. 14:19).
Practically applied, that means that we've got to continually walk in love and be willing to pursue reconciliation and forgiveness whenever it is needed. It also means that we take church discipline seriously. Some of the strongest disciplinary language found anywhere in the New Testament is directed toward to those who cause division within the flock.
So unity is to be both pursued and protected. When either of these responsibilities are neglected, the outcome is never positive.
I'll never forget the time I heard Gayle Erwin make the insightful point that there are three key words involved in church discipline: Restoration – Removal – Reconciiation. In other words, the Scriptures tell us to restore the sinner; remove a divisive person; and throughout the New Testament we are commanded to reconcile with believers that we don't get along with.
Practically applied, that means that we've got to continually walk in love and be willing to pursue reconciliation and forgiveness whenever it is needed. It also means that we take church discipline seriously. Some of the strongest disciplinary language found anywhere in the New Testament is directed toward to those who cause division within the flock.
So unity is to be both pursued and protected. When either of these responsibilities are neglected, the outcome is never positive.
I'll never forget the time I heard Gayle Erwin make the insightful point that there are three key words involved in church discipline: Restoration – Removal – Reconciiation. In other words, the Scriptures tell us to restore the sinner; remove a divisive person; and throughout the New Testament we are commanded to reconcile with believers that we don't get along with.
That's the biblical pattern. But Erwin pointed out that the church often gets these all twisted around. We remove the sinner, restore the divisive person, and then totally ignore reconciling with believers we don't get along with, and then we wonder why we have the problems we do.
This particular topic has been has been on my mind as of late because I have several friends in ministry who are pastoring churches that are literally being torn apart by infighting and division. It's devastating to watch what it's doing to them and their families. It also breaks my heart to see what it's doing to the cause of Christ in their respective communities.
But in thinking through the chart, one of the things that we discovered is that, while the causes of division are numerous, often, the root of it all can be traced back to simply getting our eyes off Christ and on ourselves. Mission gets replaced with ME – my needs, my wants, my preferences, etc.
May God forgive us.
If you'd like a copy of the chart, click here.
One other resource that I would highly recommend is Mark Driscoll's excellent message, How Sharp the Edge? Christ, Controversy, and Cutting Words. He preached it at last year's Desiring God conference. He contended that the church will never be healthy unless we are willing to faithfully do these five things:
- Feed the sheep.
- Rebuke the swine.
- Shoot the wolves.
- Bark at the dogs.
- Pray for the shepherds.
"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!" (Ps. 133)
