DEALING WITH OUR BROTHERS
This past week, I had to kill a chicken. I was not happy about the situation, and Drew was even more upset.
Tuesday I went out to our chicken pen to let the chickens out. Usually, all of them except some hens that might be trying to lay an egg at the time run out as soon as I open the door. This time, I noticed a rooster that was not running out. As a matter of fact, he was barely moving at all. I found him kind of slumped over in the chicken house, acting like he was having trouble walking. I took him out of them pen, set him up with feed and water near by, and went to a meeting I had. Later in the day, Gladys called and said he was not doing any better and that Drew was upset.
When I got home, I saw that he was still sick and that others were messing with him, so I put him to sleep so that he would not suffer and so that whatever he had would not spread.
Now, several things bothered me about this incident. First, this bothered me because this rooster was a beautiful bird and we didn’t want to lose him. Second, it bothered me because we had raised his parents and he was one of the first chicks hatched out on our place. Third, it bothered me because of all of the effort we had made in an unsuccessful attempt to protect him.
When we built that pen we knew there were animals in the area that would do everything they could to kill our chickens. We have raccoons, fox and other animals in the area that will kill and eat our chickens and eggs if we give them the opportunity so when we built the pen we dug a trench all the way around the pen and buried the wire deep in the ground so nothing could dig in. We put wire over the top so no hawks could get in and kill the young ones. We put a gate on one end that we raise and fasten each night, after the chickens are in, so nothing can get in to them. Yet, in spite of all of our precautions against outside predators, something from the inside made our bird sick to the point where he was unable to function.
I am afraid that this is too similar to what we often see happen in the church. How often do we look around at the world and we see the ungodliness, violence and false teachings the world so easily embraces and do all we can to build defenses against those things and try to keep them from getting into the church and from getting to our children while often ignoring things going on right within the church which often have just as much opportunity to injure us. One of those illnesses of the inside, one of those diseases of destruction that we often ignore and overlook at great peril to ourselves and the church is in the area of conflict, or disagreements between brothers and sisters in Christ, between friends and family members, between soldiers of the same side, and this conflict, addressed incorrectly, can tear us apart.
Please understand, in this life, in this church, among friends and in families, there will be disagreements. We see conflict or disagreements come for many different reasons.
I. REASONS FOR CONFLICT
1. We can have conflict because of Misunderstandings
- Joshua 22:10-34
The Eastern tribes simply wanted to erect a monument to remind themselves and future generations that they were still part of the nation of Israel, that they worshipped the same God as the western tribes, and that they were all part of the same family sharing the same inheritance.
The western tribes got upset because they thought their eastern brothers were trying to worship the wrong god or that they were worshipping in a way that was inappropriate and would bring God’s wrath and judgment on them all.
Nobody was right. Nobody was wrong. It was a simple misunderstanding.
2. We can have conflict because of differences in priorities, goals, expectations, interests or opinions.
- Acts 15:36-39
We can’t trust him because of past experiences with him. Vs. I think he has grown and learned since then and we need to give him another chance.
3. We can have conflict because of competition over limited resources.
- Genesis 13:1-12
Lot and Abram’s servants having trouble because their flocks and herds were growing and there was a limited amount of grass, water, and room for them all.
It wasn’t a bad thing. God was blessing them both. God was increasing them both, but there was only so much room and resources to go around.
The same is often true in the church. We only have so much money to use in ministry … We only have so much room to work in and to hold classes in. We only have a limited amount of time in the calendar and people can only spare a limited amount of time away from their families in order to work and serve. Which things are most important?
A person with the gift of evangelism may say leading people to Christ should take all of our resources. A person with the gift of teaching may feel that discipling is the most important. Others may feel that feeding the hungry and clothing the poor are the most important. Others may feel that standing against social injustice or moral wrongs they see in society are the most important things we are to address.
I feel a conflict just within myself, every time I see one of those commercials on TV showing the hungry and poor children around the world.
I want you to notice that in these three instances, there is no sin involved. People are having disagreements, there is conflict, people are at odds, but there is no sin invloved in any of the three preceeding cases. My friend, just because you have conflict, just because there are difficulties between Christian brothers and sisters doesn’t mean there is sin involved. It doesn’t mean someone is sinning.
4. We can have conflict because of things that threaten our comfort or pride.
- 1 Samuel 18:6-9
Saul was upset because David was getting more credit than he was. …
5. We can have conflict because of sinful attitudes
- Matthew 15:18-19; James 4:1-2
In a fallen world, conflict is inevitable and should be expected.
Now, there are two ways you can respond to conflict. There is the way the world responds and the way Christ’s followers are to respond.
II. THE WORLD RESPONDS TO CONFLICT BY:
- Matthew 5:21-26
1. Acting like there is no problem – v23
What problem? If he has a problem, then that is his problem. I haven’t done anything.
2. Attacking a person’s wisdom – v22
“Thy fool” – empty-headed person. The only reason he thinks that way is because he isn’t very bright. …
3. Attacking a person’s worth – v22
Insulting a person’s character. He only said that, he only thinks that way because he isn’t a very moral person. If he were as close to God as I am he would see things my way. …
But we’re all Christians here. We’re all nice. We would never consider insulting or attacking a person so we act in a sic. “ more godly manner’ and:
4. Getting angry and stewing – v 22
We get angry and simply think mean things about them or their character or their ideas or their perception. We may not kill them, but we may wish them taken out of the picture.
Clarence Darrow, the agnostic once said, I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure. (internet, Quotes by Clarence Darrow).
III. CHRIST’S FOLLOWERS RESPOND TO CONFLICT BY
1. Understanding our worship is worthless if our hearts are not right
Jesus said, - v23-24
Our worship is worthless without our hearts being right with God. … How often do we go through the motions …
> Psalm 66:18
2. Examining ourselves
> Romans 12:18 If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone.
- Galatians 5:22-25
> Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called sons of God.
3. Letting others know if we have a problem
> Matthew 18:15 If your brother sins against you, go and rebuke him in private. If he listens to you, you have won your brother.
Just hanging on to bitterness, or acting like there is no problem when a brother or sister has done something against you is not the answer. You need to go to that person and let them know. You find that it was nothing more than a misunderstanding. They may not have meant things the way they came out and may not have any idea they offended you, but you will never know until you go to them.
How quick we are to do this part, the letting people know we have a problem, and how slow we often are to do the next two.
4. Forgiving others
> Mark 11:25 And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your wrongdoing.
5. Actively seeking reconciliation
- Matthew 5:23-25
“The time for reconciliation, just as the time for salvation, is always now. Tomorrow is often too late. We are not to allow bitterness, anger, hatred, or any other sin to keep us separated from other people, whoever they are” (John MacArthur, Matthew 1-7 , MacArthur NT Commentary).
Jesus said, “Go deal with the situation. Go take care of it.” It doesn’t matter of you are only 5% responsible for the rift or disagreement, you are 100% responsible for your 5% and have a responsibility to deal with it.”
Let me ask you, “Have you dealt with it?” What issues are you ignoring? What situations with your brother or sister are you ignoring and allowing to fester?
Many of you know Dennis. Dennis is suffering from Rheumatoid arthritis. Many of you are familiar with the disease. That is when the body attacks itself causing pain, disfigurement, and an inability for the body to function as it should.
My friends, the Bible says that we are the Body of Christ. This church and our sister churches. We are all part of the Kingdom of God. We are all part of the Body of Christ, and I am afraid that this body is suffering from arthritis. Christians are busily attacking Christians. Because of it, families, and Christ Body is suffering pain, disfigurement, and an inability to function as the church should in the community.
Let me ask you. What part are you playing in your home? What part are you playing in your family? What part are you playing in the Body? What relationships do you need to work on this week?
Arthritis – a disease in whic
