A Rant About "Christian" Feuds

I’ve been involved in a few verbal scuffles in my life! One thing I’ve taken away from them, as a whole, is that they affect the people around us much more than we could imagine. Our spilling emotions, our withdrawal, our desire for justice, our semi-controlled frustration or anger ….. they spray the people around us, leaving them to make a choice about how to handle the aftermath!

This ‘sharing’ of our circumstance with others actually multiplies the burden of it. Each person who’s given a piece of information about the ordeal can become a feather in our cap, bringing us comfort in the fact that others see the injustice of our situation! This way of handling scuffles perpetuates the problem; more people with contributing ideas and thoughts fuel the unholy fire. After a while we’ve created a bonfire of astronomical proportions out of something that should have been briefly discussed then personally taken to God for His comfort and wisdom.

Philippians 4 records such a disagreement between 2 women in the church. Since neither of them was willing to resolve the situation, the church leaders asked Paul for his input. It’s evident that the problem had shifted from a disagreement between these two women to an ordeal which was over-shadowing church life at Philippi. This had taken the focus off of the work of God and put it onto the over-spilling emotions of their feud. But Paul didn’t take sides in it; he recognized that both of these women sincerely loved God and had a record of serving Him whole-heartedly. Here is insight for us: if we disagree with someone it doesn’t mean that God has stopped using them to advance His kingdom!

We’re not sent here to justify our personal feelings before others, but to defend the Gospel by the way we live. This takes the pressure out of having to be right about everything, thinking that others will see us as Godly if we can support our stance with the right Scriptures. Ultimately, our motives behind our thoughts and actions are more crucial than having the correct Scripture as a defense of our stance, and while others may not be able to see that motive, God does! We can point out applicable Scriptures when resolving conflicts, but without patience and tenderness we become Bible-thumping legalists who are more concerned about being right than living righteously before God and others.

Take The First Step!

Sometimes the first step is the hardest…but things will never change without taking that step. You can pray and plan and decree and confess and dream all you want, but sooner or later you have to put boots to the ground!


Take examples from the Word of God and be empowered to step out of the place you’re in and step into the next season of your life in Christ:

-The Israelites had to step out of Egypt before they stepped into the Promised Land (Exodus 13). Miracles, signs and wonders followed their first step and God was continually faithful to protect and care for them.

-Peter had to step out of the boat before he stepped onto the water (Matt 14). He may have slipped in faith a bit once he doubted, but Jesus caught him. Jesus didn't correct him for stepping out, he corrected him for doubting.

-The woman with the issue of blood had to step out of the protocol of the time period and into the street, where she touched the hem of Jesus garment and was healed (Luke 8). She’d spent most of her adult life sick, but one step toward Jesus changed her future - the flow of blood stopped and health was restored.

-Jesus had to step out of heaven to fulfill the will of God in bringing sinners to salvation (John 6:38). One humble step by Jesus changed the eternal destiny of all who will believe on Him!

Don’t be satisfied in the boat while you dream of walking on water, and don’t stay in Egypt while the Promised Land is waiting! 

What’s holding you back?

1 In 10 Will Praise Him!

While traveling to Jerusalem Jesus passed through Samaria and Galilee where he came upon a group of lepers. Because Old Testament law required social separation for lepers, these men stood far off from the rest of the crowds that gathered around Jesus.

As He passed by, 10 of the lepers called out to Jesus, saying, “Master, have mercy on us!” They not only wanted healing, but to be released from the stigma of leprosy. There was no known cure for leprosy in Jesus’ time, so the affected victims lived together in colonies, separated from their families and the rest of society for fear that the disease would spread. As the disease progressively grew worse, fingers, toes and sometimes parts of their face or ears slowly rotted off with the pain and stench of leprosy. 

Jesus response to them was simple: “Go, show yourselves to the priest.” He didn’t pray over them, touch them or pronounce them healed, but because He was still living under the Old Testament Law, Jesus sent the lepers to the priests as prescribed in Leviticus 14. There they would present the proper offerings and complete the process required for being declared clean and free of leprosy.
Still full of pain and disfigurement, the 10 started toward the temple. A few steps into their journey one of them turned back to Jesus, shouting “I am healed!” So overjoyed was he at this healing and the prospect of rejoining society and his family, that he immediately fell on his face before Jesus in thankful praise!

The remaining 9 lepers continued on their journey toward the temple– they had gotten what they’d asked for, they were satisfied. But because this 1 leper turned back to praise and thank Jesus, he received more than healing – he received restoration in his body and the gift of salvation with all its benefits!
Jesus declared this man to be ‘whole’ because of his faith and the attitude of his heart. The word ‘whole’ is the Greek word ‘sozo': it’s the same word translated as ‘salvation’ throughout the entire New Testament. Sozo means to be healed, protected, delivered, restored, preserved and brought to safety! While the rest of the 9 lepers were healed, this man was restored and brought into relationship with the Living God! The implication here is that this man’s body was fully restored – the effects of the leprosy were wiped away and new fingers, toes or ears were given to him – whatever had been lost was replaced. 

What released the blessings of salvation for this man were faith, praise and thankfulness! He simply turned to Jesus with a heart of gratitude and adoration, not asking for more, but overjoyed by the gift he’d received, and adored the Savior! This is the man that was completely released from the stigma of leprosy; his past was wiped away and new life was given to him.
Have you adored the Savior and given Him the praise due Him? Whether you're in need or have plenty; when you're caught up in illness or debt; when you don't see a light at the end of the tunnel or when life is wonderful, do you give Him thanks? Regardless of how we feel, praise and thankfulness are due His name!

“Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's” (PS 103:1-5).

How Noble Is Your Character?

The word "nobility" might take your mind to images of Kings and Queens in royal dress, however, the Apostle Paul defines nobility from a heavenly perspective.

Paul called the Bereans 'noble' because they daily read their Bibles to prove or disprove the words he'd spoken to them. A person with noble character uses diligence and honesty in searching the Scriptures, never taking someone else's words as Gospel. A noble person doesn't look for bits of scripture to prove his doctrine, but opens his heart and allows God to purify him and implant Truth. The noble person sees that it's God's Word that brings about His promises, not man's interpretation of God's Word.

The Bereans are an excellent example of this, showing that we are to love the brethren and respect their gifts, but delve into the Word for ourselves to either confirm or deny what we've heard. This will keep us from being pulled into false doctrine and feel-good ideas.

This is not a criticism of anyone's preaching or writing; inspiration from others is a wonderful blessing but we must never take it at face value. The Bereans searched Scriptures to see if the Apostle Paul's teachings were accurate, and Paul commended them for it. They were hungry for Truth, not something to tickle their ears and never something that just made them feel good or confirmed religious traditions. They wouldn't allow themselves to receive just any words as Gospel, but they guarded their hearts by staying in the Scriptures. Paul considered this to be a very good and noble practice - regardless if they were evaluating his words or those of someone else.

These are the noble sons and daughters of the King; those who seek His Truth for themselves. They cannot be deceived into following another because they have spent time getting to know the King, the Living Word, and He is imprinted on their hearts.

"Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true" (Acts 17:11).