Feuding Tears Us Apart

Day 40: Numbers 16:1-18:32

Feuding seems to be the norm theses days.  Protestors clash with other protestors.  Democrats and Republicans feud seem to be an endless cycle of ranting about the other.  School boards feuding with parents and students over masking mandates.  Media feuds with each other over who is fake or fact.  Conservatives and liberals feud over abortion, voting laws and a plethora of other moral issues.  

Christians feud, too.  They feud over opinionated doctrines, mostly.  No matter the denomination, there seems to be a feud associated within its walls.  

I am a minister with the Churches of Christ.  I have heard a lot from people outside of our "tribe" that "we believe that we are the only ones going to heaven." Truthfully, I have heard preachers preach that "we are the only true church found in Scripture."

As a young preacher, I bought into the "opinionated doctrine" of the, "one right way to God was through the Churches of Christ."  I was wrong.  They were wrong.  We've been wrong.  Our feuds with competing Christians of other denominations were wrong, sinfully wrong.  I recall not being able to co-partner with the Baptist for fear people might think we were agreeing with their theology.  I've been told we can't use the word, "sanctuary" because the Methodist use it.  

Our feuds have corrupted the sanctity of Christ church and have scarred the validity of truth, God's truth by inserting our own "opinionated doctrine" as fact.  However, much good has been done over the years to overcome the false notion of "who is the only one right." doctrine.  The truth is, unless the church is about Jesus, it's never right.  Unless our unity is in Christ, it is never right.  If we do not love God and others, it's never right.  Unless we serve like Jesus, it's never right.  We are only right when the church is about Christ, rather than the name on our marquee. 

The Israelites feuded with Moses and Aaron about being holy.  Korah, Dathan and Abiram, along with 250 Israelite men rose up against Moses and Aaron and accused them of elevating themselves as the only holy ones among the people.  The accusation was fierce and came from unholy hearts. Moses put the men's charges to the test.  It wasn't long before God showed up with anger and wiped out the troublemakers.  God declared the feud over and put his stamp of approval on Moses and Aaron.        Numbers 16:1-3

Feuds end when Christ leads, no matter if it is political or spiritual.  When we seek righteousness, feuds will only be a memory.  When Christ is exalted and proclaimed as Lord, our unity will stand firm, our conversations will be polite and our love will be relationally felt.   

Remember, Be God Controlled!