Fighting!
Why can’t folks just get along? We could maybe try forgiveness every now and then.
But some just like to fight. Even Christians are known to have conflict. Can you believe that there have even been fights and arguments and such in the church? I know; right there in the sanctuary. It seems we see this every year or so. Maybe it’s the weather. No, probably not!
Most all of us have had family or friend situations where one person or the other just insisted that they didn’t want to get along. It’s amazing how one person can go for years being mad at another and the other person don’t even know it. Now understand, folks like the Hatfields and the McCoys had no problem with communication. They had plenty of communication, but it just stunk.
Let me just say this: Jesus’ Church must have harmony, or it will literally be useless and ineffective to His kingdom.
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 11:18, “For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it” (nasb)
If you’ve got a problem with someone in the church, for example, like you want to hate ‘em and don’t speak to that person, then I plead with you to allow the Holy Spirit to go to work and y’all get whatever problem there is fixed and dealt with. And try to do it in a peaceful way. Going out back of the church to settle your differences surely ain’t what the Lord had in mind
I have learned that I’m likely gonna upset somebody just about any time I open my mouth or type a word. That’s why it is often better to keep my mouth shut than to try to force my size 12 ee boot in it. And besides all that, my boot has probably stepped in something! I am sure you have experienced similar results.
It’s important to seek the Holy Spirit’s leadership before we begin to talk. If we are to truly represent God, then you must allow Him to lead! Too many times we try to come up with something all on our own and, when we do, we say something like, “Hey Lord, I have this really good idea for doin’ church.” “I think it might even be better than what You’re already doing.”
Yeah, let me know how that works for you!
If God isn’t in the plan then it’s just not the right plan! So when you come to the church preachin’ meetin’, come with the plan to allow God to be the reason why you are there and plan to truly gather with one another in worship to the Lord!
True story: A few years ago, a pastor from another state was tellin’ me how he kept having problems with this one cowboy that had started coming to cowboy church. He wasn’t just lost, but this cowboy had never heard anything about Jesus except for using His name with some other adjectives in his description of just about everything. Well, after about the umpteenth time this cowboy caused problems, this cowboy preacher friend finally just hauled off and hit him right between the house and the barn. He knocked him out cold. And then my friend, the preacher, said, “…but it was all good, cause He gave his life to Christ two months later and I got to baptize him!”
I asked him how long he held him under the water. He told me that it was a little longer than usual because he was pretty sure God needed more time to wash that one. All I could do was shake my head. That’s not the way it’s supposed to work. Just turn to Jesus!
Choose Jesus, choose life and let your light shine! And find a Bible believin’ church where you “fit in” and know, grow, and follow Christ! Tell others! See y’all at church and keep PRAYIN’ for HIS HARVEST! Pray for the rain! Amen!