Strife in the Church

(Galatians 5:13-15) "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.  But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another."  One of the problems in many Independent Baptist churches is strife.  Of course, strife is something that affects churches regardless of denomination.  However, I'm a Baptist so I'm aware of how Baptists are.  Strife causes all kinds of problems in our churches.  What causes strife? Pride, contention, envy, jealousy, and the list continues.  What is strife?  Strife is a conflict that's strirred up between people.  Many times the issues that are involved are not very significant.  There are some people that desire preeminence in the church, which is the result of pride.  Pride leads to strife.  Many times some of the issues involved are very trivial.  The issues could range from not liking the choice of carpet the pastor chooses when he decides it's time to replace the carpet in the sanctuary to not being chosen for a particular position which you think you deserve.  There are some church members that are upset if the pastor doesn't shake their hand nor greet them when they come inside the church.  Some of the issues could revolve around to not being invited at some other church members' house for a particular social.  It could be a host of issues.  However, strife is produced by pride, envy, and jealousy.

What's the one member of our body that fuels strife?  It's the tongue.  James 3:6 says that the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity; so is the whole tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body.  The tongue is set on fire of hell.  Strife is the result of somebody using their tongue to criticize or destroy somebody's reputation.  You would be amazed in many church member's homes that their afternoon meal is roast preacher.  In other words, they use their tongue to criticize and destroy the man of God.  It happens quite often in many of our churches.  People don't like what the man of God says so they open their mouth and spew venom.  That's why there's so much strife and contention in the church today.  There are people who do nothing but flap their tongue consistently and are always critical about this issue or the decisions the man of God makes on behalf of the church.  Then there are church members who are biting and devouring one another.  There are some that are at odds with one another or over another church member's appearance, or their personality, some comment that was made, or something they didn't do that they thought should've been done.  Some church members are hurt because somebody made fun of them or were joking at them.  There are a number of reasons why strife is prevalent in the church.  Consequently, strife hinders the work of God.  The Holy Spirit is grieved when people are being busybodies gossiping about one another.  God hates it.  One of the seven abominations that God hates is sowing discord among the brethren.  Sowing discord will cause strife in the church.

I've seen preachers that were at odds with one another.  I know of preachers that had strife manifested between them.  I can remember one time years ago there used to be preacher's fellowships on a monthly basis in the Independent Baptist realm in Kentucky.  It eventually split.  They would devote their time debating over certain points of doctrine in which there was no clear-cut answer in the Bible.  The Bible says those types of debates are unprofitable and can cause strife and contention.  I know of a preacher who mounted the pulpit in a particular preacher's fellowship.  He preached a message entitled, "The Condition of the Last Day Church", talking about the church of Laodecia (if my memory serves me correct).  He was making mention of revival and he stated he felt America had slid too far down the wrong path to have any major national revival like we once experienced during the eighteenth century.  The pastor of that church called the preacher in the pulpit a reprobate and said he denied the faith.  The opinion the preacher shared concerning revival wasn't heresy.  However, some preachers formulate opinions about certain points of doctrine that's unclear and if another preacher disagrees with them, then strife will result.  It's foolish.  It's all motivated by pride.  It's tragic when Independent Baptist preachers who agree similarly on most points of doctrine will allow themselves to be separated over the interpretation of certain points of scripture which is insignificant.  Nevertheless, that happens.  There are some points of doctrine that's clear-cut and you must be absolutely correct.  If not, then you're preaching damnable heresy.  If any preacher preaches anything that deviates from Biblical salvation that's found in scripture, then he's a heretic.  However, the point I was making was preachers being contentious with one another over insignificant points of doctrine.  Baptists are known for shooting the wounded in their churches. 

How can we remedy the situation over strife?  Proverbs 26:20 says where no wood is the fire goeth out and where there's no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.  Proverbs 26:21 says, "As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife."  Don't occupy your time with someone that likes to cause strife.  If he wants to rip somebody apart, tell him you're not going to listen to what he has to say.  Don't be a party to gossip.  Don't fellowship with people who devote their time to gossiping and ridiculing other people.  The Bible talks about studying to be quiet.  Just because we hear something or know a particular fact about someone doesn't give us the excuse to open our mouth and spew poison about that individual.  Also, we should not use our tongue for anything that's not a part of Godly edifying.  Ephesians 4:29 tells us to not allow corrupt communication to proceed from our mouths.  God will judge us for every idle word we say.  Also, we're not to give ear to gossip either.  It's just as equally wrong to give ear to gossip as to spew gossip from our mouth.  Don't give place to the Devil.  Those that we have offended, we need to come to them and apologize and ask for forgiveness for ridiculing them.  We need to make things right with those that we have offended.

God is grieved over the strife that's prevalent in the churches today.  That's why there's so much deadness spiritually in the churches.  Many preachers have to preach over all the strife that's prevalent in that local assembly.  It's foolish.  Most of the strife that takes place many times is trivial.  There are certain groups of people who are full of pride and desire to be preeminent in the church.  Anytime pride is involved, then strife and contention will follow.  Strife must be nipped in the bud.  People's lives are destroyed due to strife in the church.  Worst of all, strife could hinder a lost person from being saved.  Is it worth a lost person dying and going to hell over.  When the lost world sees the members of the congregation in odds with one another, is that going to convince them they need Jesus?  I doubt. When they see church members critical over one another it gives the world an excuse to think that if that's what Christianity's all about, then they desire no part of it.  How can the world see that Christ is real if we can't love one another.  I John mentions much about how the brethren are to love one another.  I John says if we can't love those whom we've seen, then how can we love God whom we have not seen? 

When we're on the other side of the grave, we'll recognize how foolish we were for allowing strife to split and separate us.  Life is too short.  Put away strife and contention.  Don't be a party to strife.  Watch how you communicate with your tongue.  If it's not used for Godly edifying, then its wicked.