for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in
all the churches of the saints.
Insights: This week we have
investigated a church that has been fussing and feuding over the use of
spiritual gifts, they have been sewing each other in the court system, they
have gotten upset with the pastor and stopped giving financially to the church,
they dislike what people are or are not wearing to church, they don’t like the
food some people are bringing to the potlucks, and we could go on and on. Now do you think all of this fussing and
feuding is going to promote confusion or peace?
I believe the answer is quite clear, it will cause confusion. Would you like to attend a church like Corinth? This question is really at the heart of the
fifth telltale sign of a church in the midst of a “cold war.” The fifth sign is that people start to
physically withdraw from a church. For
many of these families they begin attending other churches. Still for many
families they just drop out of church completely. The sad part is the church caught up in this “cold
war” is then hindered even more and the confusion compounds even greater. A downward spiral begins to envelop the body
and the “cold war” escalates. The
beauty, however, is this cycle does not have to continue. In chapter four and fifteen Paul gives the
answer to peace within the body. This
peace has two parts. One, we focus on
the power of the transforming resurrection we presently experience and dwell on
the future hope of glory that our resurrection gives to us. Two, as a result of turning our eyes toward
glory instead of focusing on the “cold war,” we are now able to serve the body
of Christ out of love. When we are
experiencing the power of the resurrection and serving out of love, do you
think peace or confusion will be the bi-product? Once again, I think the answer is clear. Peace within the body will be the end
result. So, Beloved, look to our hope of
glory and lovingly serve and let’s watch God bring about an amazing restoration
to our churches.
Questions:
- Are you contemplating throwing the towel in and leaving
the local church?
- Have you decided to stop striving for peace and succumb to the confusion of disunity?
Prayer: Father, how I long for peace and unity within the body of
Christ. Mature us, Your children, with
Your grace and let us experience peace and unity among ourselves. Amen.
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