A recently saved young wife and mother mentioned to a friend how discouraged she had become about problems that had arisen among a group of her Christian homeschooling friends. The problems? Ill-feelings and strife that had been allowed to develop between those Christians who had come together to support and encourage each other. She was experiencing the sorrowful fruits of an unchecked “root of bitterness” (Heb. 12:1515Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; (Hebrews 12:15)).
The Christian homeschoolers she and her husband are involved with carry on an energetic gospel outreach as part of their group activities. But personal grievances and contentions among some have caused such tension that the once-fruitful evangelical outreach is being noticeably affected.
Though sad to see the “work of the Lord” hindered, what bothered her most was the public dishonor to the name of Christ in the community they were trying to reach with the gospel.
“How can we expect the Lord to bless our outreach when we hold these kinds of hard feelings against each other?” she asked her friend.
Stark question with a painful answer.
She asked another searching question: “How can the Lord be honored in what we do when we are upset with each other?” She continued, “We’re supposed to be glorifying the Lord in our service. But if we can’t even get along with each other, how can He be glorified by our evangelical outreach?”
This dear believer was concerned about an issue that many Christians who are older in faith know in their heads but don’t use in their feet the vital necessity of walking together “in love” as His “dear children” (Eph. 5:1212For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. (Ephesians 5:12)) bearing a unified and loving testimony to the Person of Christ before the world.
In these last days, Satan untiringly works to cause strife and discord among those who ought to display the love, peace and unity of Christ. Certainly we must own to our shame how successful he has been.
Walking in Unity
The Lord Jesus commands His own to walk in love (Eph. 5:22And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savor. (Ephesians 5:2)), walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:2525If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25)), walk in wisdom (Col. 4:55Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. (Colossians 4:5)), walk in the light (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)), and walk in truth (3 John 44I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. (3 John 4)).
The message is plain we should walk for the Lord before we talk for the Lord. Believers are one body (1 Cor. 12:1212For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12)) and are to walk “with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:2323And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; (Ephesians 4:23)). We know the doctrine but too often are careless about putting it to practical use in our lives.
A “Numbers” Lesson
To walk is putting into daily practice what we say we know. But what good is it to say we know “the truth” if there is no evidence of its practical power in our conduct towards one another? Our Lord’s command—love one another is repeated at least nineteen times in the New Testament. On the other hand, Biblical instructions in the New Testament to rebuke another believer are found only five times.
Simple numbers, basic math profound lesson!
Knowing and Doing
Are we practicing what we know?
We easily talk of biblical doctrines of love, peace and forgiveness but find it difficult to practice them, especially towards one who has rendered a personal offense. Yet, the Word of God is clear and unmistakable. His desire is that love characterize our actions even when we have been offended. Are we obeying?
Even the world says, “If you don’t walk the walk, don’t talk the talk.” Do we love in deed, as He loved?
The Wrong Emphasis
It is easy to stress the words against thee, as though the verse chiefly refers to personal wrongs. The rendering may seem to grant Biblical allowance to individually rebuke brethren who have given personal offense. But the verse is better rendered, “If thy brother should sin, rebuke him; and if he should repent, forgive him” (JND). The words “against thee” aren’t in this verse, suggesting that the reason for rebuking has more to do with concern about the sin being against God (and the solemn results for the guilty) rather than against self.
In the next verse (Luke 17:44And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. (Luke 17:4)) the subject is clearly a matter of personal offense “against thee.” But even there the emphasis is not on rebuking the offender, but rather on forgiving him.
Divine love views sin in another for what it really is a dishonor to God. Feelings of personal wrongs will be replaced by grief and sorrow for the reproach rendered to Christ’s name. If a rebuke then becomes necessary, it will be given as tenderly as possible and in the spirit of love.
Where there is personal offense, love brings the very opposite of strife a willing, eager desire to forgive the guilty over and over and over again.
The Right Spirit
“Speaking the truth in love” (Eph. 4:1515But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: (Ephesians 4:15)). Though this refers to the necessity of maintaining the pure truth of God as it relates to the body of Christ and doing so in love for the truth as it is in Jesus, the principle of love guiding a believer’s spirit when dealing with personal offenses is a vital and undeniable theme throughout Scripture.
The haughty Ephramites’ arrogant, threatening words tested Jephthah to see if he would display a soft spirit. But his spirit was angry and hard, causing the death of forty-two thousand men (Judg. 12:16).
The Lord gave James and John whose vengeful spirit would set things right by fire the ultimate reproof. “He turned, and rebuked them.... Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of” (Luke 9:5555But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. (Luke 9:55)).
No Grudges
Though we are not under law, the principle is unmistakable. But for Christians, the standard of conduct is much higher, for it is not, “Love thy neighbor as thyself,” but, “Love one another as I have loved you.” Our thoughts, feelings and conduct are to be formed in the fear and love of God. He will not allow His children to harbor grudges, a spirit of resentment or seeking to right personal wrongs with one another.
No Excuses
We wonder why assemblies dwindle, why our dear young people drift into the world, or why there is little fruit from our service for Christ. The answer may be found by searching our hearts to see if a “root of bitterness” towards another exists (Heb. 12:1515Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; (Hebrews 12:15)).
Oh! that the spirit of our behavior with each other would always be, “Love one another, as I have loved you” (John 15:1212This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. (John 15:12)). “As I have loved you” what a lofty standard He gives to guide our relationships!
Do we view the divine charge to forgive (Eph. 4:3232And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:32)) and to love as unattainable or, worse yet, as undesirable, preferring to feel justified in nursing (rather than forgiving) personal offenses?
The only standard given to guide our actions towards brethren is the manner in which the Lord Jesus loves each of us. Such infinite love leaves no room for hard, unforgiving spirits and allows for no excuses which tolerate or encourage strife and contentions among the members of His body.