Troubled Church - Part 2
Lesson 2Christ's Expectations of Us
I hope this week is finding everyone well. I had such a wide response to Lesson 1 in this series that sent it out a week later with the answers. I was struck too by the fact that of our email group no less than four churches were currently going through some form of dramatic turmoil; with two of the four actually being close to dissolution.
In our last lesson, we considered some of the ways that divisions and dissension enter the life of a church and how easy it is to allow our walk with Christ to become comprised if we don’t take special care during turbulent times.
We also saw how hard it is to act the way Christ would have us to act, how difficult it is to emulate Christ in every way when we personally are the ones being attacked, slandered, or singled out. It’s extremely hard to turn the other cheek when someone has caused you great harm or pain, or has hurt someone else whom you care deeply about. Our initial reaction is to strike back, and then the other party strikes back, or solicits others to join in the dissension, and before we know it, a small incident is the beginning of a large division.
Worse is when the leadership within the body is involved and begins to exhibit behavior that’s not Christ-like. This shakes our confidence and causes doubts, uncertainty; some even see their faith waiver as they question the speech and acts of people they’ve come to respect and follow.
In our class, We also took a long look at 1 Corinthians chapter 13:4-7 and what love really is all about. You’ll note in that chapter that love is mostly described by what it is not.
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
You’ll note love is patient, but it does not keep score, it does not strike back, and above all love builds up, it does not tear down. We came to realize that as a division or dissension continues over time love is pushed into the background, and getting even or keeping score, or having the upper hand, becomes the paramount goal. As time moves on score is kept; recorded in the minds of the injured are every incident no matter how trivial and we become blinded to the truth.
Soon a desire to win out or to survive over takes our judgment completely and we begin to read into every action some sub plot or agenda on the part of the other party. Now even innocent actions and conversations are interpreted as conspiracies and gossip and we lose the spiritual battle.
What we learned from all this was several things: 1) The improper behavior, no matter what it is must stop immediately – see the first twelve chapters of 1 Corinthians for example, 2) Forgiveness means just that – reconciling with Christ and with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ is imperative before any healing can begin – burying the hatchet does not mean burying it in the back of our enemies, and 3) Love means you can’t keep score. A healing must occur if a church is to survive and grow under Christ’s leadership.
Paul tells us that no matter what else we do, no matter how perfect we are, we are nothing if we have not love – and you can’t have love if you’re battling or causing divisions and harm within the body. 4) Before we point a finger at anyone we need to look to ourselves and to God’s Holy Word. Are we individually walking and living as Christ would have us. Have we been all along? Before we can love we need to be forgiven, before we can be forgiven we need to ask Christ for it. Only then can the process of healing and peacemaking take place.
So what kind of a person does Christ expect us to be? That’s our lesson for this week. Let’s take a look at Psalm 15 and Psalm 24.
Read Psalm 15 then read Psalm 24. Answer the following questions:
- What does Psalm 24:3-4 tell us about approaching God and dwelling with him? Who can do that?
- What do these two verses mean? Do they mean we have to wash our hands to be in fellowship with God?
- How do these two verses apply to the lesson we’ve been studying about churches in turmoil and dealing with disillusionment within the church?
- Now read Psalm 15, list the nine things they instruct us to do:
- These verses address our walk with God, our interactions with our family, our friends and neighbors, and in the work place. Can you identify which verses address each of these?
- Why is knowing this important to us as we study struggles within the church?
In the end, we see that when Christ is not lifted up as the head of the church, then divisions, struggles and disillusionment occur. In the final analysis, when we individually drift away from worshipping God first and we begin to care more about our own agendas, goals, priorities and desires in life ("idols" the Bible calls them), then we no longer possess spiritual insight. Our hearing, sight and ability to discern properly are all blinded by our sins and shortcomings; no wonder the truth gets so distorted.
If we are indeed to begin to seek the path of reconciliation and the role of peacemaker we must first individually be reconciled with God – it is only after this that we’ll have the ability to discern the truth and to know with certainty the path we should follow. The only way we can be reconciled with God is through Christ and through confessing our sins to him.
We need to commit today to search our hearts, confess our sins before God who is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Let’s commit today to get our gaze fixed back on Christ and the Cross – seeking first the Kingdom of God – then He will hear our prayers, clear our vision, and revive us again for the work ahead.
May God heal your broken spirit this week as you study with us. May Christ be lifted up and may He heal the fellowship that’s broken, the church that’s lukewarm, the soul that’s weary. May He grant you a peace beyond all understanding.
Your in Christ,
Wes
[2006]