Church Fight

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:1-3)

There was once a story of a young woman who loved music and love children. She began to attend a small church in the small town where she lived. She saw that there was little being offered to the children beyond a Sunday School teacher. She offered to start a children's choir. The church was more than happy for her to do so. 

While rehearsing the young woman found it difficult to play the piano and direct the children at the same time. She needed a different angle, so she moved the piano to the opposite side of the sanctuary where it would be easier for her to see the children and them to see her as she lead them. 

A Church Fight from ABC's TV Show "Resurrection"

Moving the piano caused an uproar. Some rather angry church members began to complain, "That piano has been in that place for decades. It was there when I was a child! Who does she think she is, moving our piano!" Their words hurt. Their attitudes harmed her. Others came to her defense, but to no avail. In the end the young woman left the church. Other families quit too. The piano got moved back to its usual spot. The church went on business as usual, with no children's choir.

The word got out into the town about this church fight. The unchurched said to one another, "You see! That's why I don't go to church! Too much politics! That's why I don't believe in organized religion!"

Rome was converted to Christianity in less than 300 years after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. According to Church history:

Many were also impressed by Christian community life, with its strong emphasis on family and on charity. Even some of the Church’s enemies commented on the Christians’ love – the Christian apologist Tertullian was pleased to assert that many pagans said, “See how those Christians love one another!” The unity of the Church was also a strength. Again, its enemies bear reluctant witness. The pagan critic Celsus, writing in c.170, commented of Christians: “Their agreement is quite amazing, the more so as it may be shown to rest on no trustworthy foundation.”

How do we reckon the story from the small Indiana town and the report from early Christianity? What has happened to the church in America? We all can point to similar church fights. 

I've been a pastor for 20 years. My understanding of the church is that we are sinful people, who come from a variety of backgrounds and family systems. We have learned from our families how to do conflict. Some yell. Some avoid the problem. Some garner support from others in the family by talking behind the back of the one with whom they have a problem. Some are paralyzed. Some become violently agitated. We learned these behaviors and bring them to the church. 

Until we recognize that we deal with conflict in ways that do not reflect the Lord's love, we will never change. As long as we point fingers and blame others, without looking at ourselves, we will remain stuck in unhealthy patterns when dealing with conflict. It's the same in every church. It's the same in every human organization. The reason church fights are worse than, let's say, conflict at work, is because we expect more from those who say that they follow Jesus Christ.

The apostles who wrote the New Testament were shepherding the early churches. They taught them the way of Jesus through the gospel accounts and their letters. We have these to guide us. Look at Paul's words above in Ephesians 4:1-3.

Lead a life worthy of your calling! If you are claimed by the name of Jesus, your example on Facebook and other social networks is a representation of Jesus. You r example at home, work, shopping, driving, and at play is a reflection of the quality of your faith and the honor of the church. When you consider how you behave, do you think you are bringing glory to the name of Jesus and generating interest in the church?

Who needs transformation? 

At what level are you "making every effort to maintain unity" in Christ's church? Do you practice humility or do you spout off your frustrations? Do you lift others with your words or gossip and slander? 

Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. (Ephesians 4:29)

One of the problems with church is that we don't use sober judgement. We are intoxicated by our own self importance. We place our wants and needs ahead of others. We seek our own way and our personal satisfaction ahead of the needs of others. It's our nature to be self-protective and self-advancing. And what is human nature? Humans are enslaved to sin, fallen from the divine image in which were were created. Until Christ breaks us free, we will continue to behave as slaves to our own selfish impulses and patterns of unhealthy thinking and behavior. 

We may be forgiven through the blood of Christ, but are you being transformed by His love? You may think to yourself, "I'm a good person. I'm as good as the next guy." The problem with this thinking is that we are comparing ourselves to other people, not to our Lord Jesus. We in effect tell ourselves we are good enough because we are not criminal. On the outside we are nice to others most of the time. When conflict occurs, we are challenged. What happens then? What is really going on inside of you? 

Jesus taught that what come our of our mouths is come from our hearts. 

The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45)

We will always struggle with sin, I think. Until we completely surrender to the grace of our Lord Jesus. Until we completely trust in Him, walking by faith and not by sight, we will continue to dealing the failings of our former lives lived in slavery to sin. The example of the freed Hebrew slaves wandering the desert for 40 years makes this point. Even though we have the power within us to live and love like Jesus, it doesn't mean we will. We have to learn to live by His grace, a power in us through the Holy Spirit which is greater than sin.

Learning to living by grace is an ever deepening journey. So do not neglect prayer. Do not neglect the word of God. Do not neglect fellowship with Christians on the journey with you. Instead practice the means of grace given to the church and grow in the knowledge and grace of our Lord. You will over time become more and more like Him.

I'm not saying anything new about the church's sinfulness. Look at the guidance of early shepherds from the New Testament. They were dealing with Christians on the journey toward Christ-likeness too.

Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:31-32)

As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. (Colossians 3:12-14)

So who needs transformation? The church does...continually. So let us make every effort to connect to the Spirit and receive grace to live lives worthy of the name of Jesus.