Have you ever got a splinter and you couldn’t remove it so you just left it under your skin; then a week later, you’ve got a blister and infection to have drained from your hand. Or maybe you saw water flowing through a dam that is controlled; it doesn’t seem like much, after all, it’s just a small trickle; until they open the dam and flood the river. That’s how Proverbs 17:14 describes contention. The beginning of strife is like letting out water, So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out. (Proverbs 17:14)
Several years ago, I heard a sermon about Galatians 5:15. “If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.” Galatians 5:15. Today I was thinking about how Great White Sharks are very territorial; and they will attack smaller Great Whites if they feel they are in their territory. It made me think about how often Christians will attack another Christian for no other reason than they feel threatened. Now, I know a lot of people don't realize this, but I am not a stranger to the attacks of Christians. I’ve had people in the church to bear false witness against me and even today, Dec. 30th, 2018, my own cousin told me that his ministry was none of my business and his wife blatantly attacked me.
However, today, this verse kept coming up. “If you keep biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.” Sometimes, Christians are the reason why people won’t come to Christ. They see how we are not loving towards one another, how we don’t follow Christ like we should. If we give an opinion, we are quick to attack instead of going privately to the other person. Proverbs 15:1 says "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
When I was in Ireland, I remember walking past a butcher shop. Being an American, I didn’t realize that they still butchered meat and put it in the window for people to see, but they do. One thing I noticed is that the meat cleaver was never far from the butcher. It was sharp and it only took one good swing for it to cut through the muscle and bones. As I sit here tonight, I think about how contention is like that meat cleaver when it comes to relationships. They have the power to tear friends and family apart until there’s not much left. I suppose that’s why someone “who stirs up dissension among brothers” (Proverbs 6:19) makes the infamous list of things the Lord hates.
Today, I commented on a post on Facebook, I stated that “it shouldn't matter if a church is completely filled to the brim or only has 3-10 people that want to worship on New Year’s Eve. It’s not about man, it’s about glorifying God.” When I got home from Church, I noticed another person said “Well, if you are to continue something you start why are you not working full-time as a photographer?” To be honest, that’s a poor example of what I was trying to say. Matter of fact, instead of looking at the bigger picture and seeing what I was truly saying the commenter’s reply shows that they have a contentious heart. Contentious hearts look for things to criticize and for opportunities to tear down a person, program, or idea. They destroy the essential commodities of happy and productive relationships. When we unleash a volley of contentious verbiage, things like trust, thinking the best of each other, and loving attitudes all get buried under our contentious words. As Paul taught in 1 Corinthians 12, followers of Jesus are meant to be working as one, in cooperative harmony. Have you ever seen a body divided into several parts but still functioning well? Division destroys the reflection of God’s love among us and the power of His unity through us. Words that work against our unity as His body are the meat cleavers in Satan’s hand.
Another thing that we don’t think about is that contentions put a stop to the growth of grace. The body may as well thrive in a fever — as the soul prosper when on a flame with strife and contention. Observe Ephesians 4:15: "But speaking the truth in love," or being sincere in love, "may grow up into Him in all things." The apostle is upon a cure, showing how souls may come to thrive and flourish; and the formula he gives is a composition of these two rare drugs, sincerity and love; preserve these and all will go well. There may be preaching — but no edifying, without love. You cut off your trade with Heaven, at the throne of grace; you will be little in prayer to God — if much in squabbling with your brethren. It is impossible to go from wrangling to praying, with a free spirit. And if you would be so bold as to knock at God's door, you are sure to have cold welcome, "Leave your gift before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”
In Romans 12:6-21, the apostle Paul describes how we ought to behave toward one another. He illustrates that the body of Christ will function effectively only if God’s spirit of love is the overriding influence. In presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice, we ought to strive for the harmony that is needed for the spiritual gifts to operate fully. I’ll be honest, I frequently recognize a contentious spirit in others, but seldom do I recognize those same qualities or behaviors within myself. A continual examination of our motives when a disagreement arises certainly would provide a necessary checkpoint to aid in preventing a dispute from escalating into a situation that dishonors God and disrupts the body of Christ. We ought to be willing to learn and obey the principles the scriptures teach so that we can solve disputes in a loving and Christ-like manner.
The next question that I started asking as another commenter took the conversation to private chat was “What is making this person disregard the basic truth?” My answer was far from me, Pride. John Rittenbaugh* of The Church of the Great God says “Only through pride does contention last. We primarily see the effects of pride because pride is frequently difficult to detect. God has shown in His Word how to detect it: by looking at the fruits. How do we know false prophets? By their fruits, by what they produce. A quarrel that could be easily settled if both parties were humble continues indefinitely when parties are arrogant. Why? Because pride plows the way for contempt for the others opinion. Pride inflames passion and wounds feelings. Because of competitiveness, also an aspect of pride, a person feels he has to fight back. And so the argument goes back and forth.”
One thing that I believe we as Christians, often forget is, as Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:19 “That is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.” Since God doesn’t count our trespasses against us we can’t count them against others. Isaiah 1:18 reminds us “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”
Friends, we need to heed the words of Galatians 5:15; and remember to forgive others, don't hold their sins against them and as Courtnaye Richard, would encourage "Do your part and work together as one and in unity in the body of Christ. Philippians 2:2 says, “Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose.” (NLT) We need this today. So let’s serve. Let’s love. Let’s forgive. Let’s show others Christ within us. And let’s get the job done together so that we can someday hear those precious words from Matthew 25:21 which says, “Well done, my good and faithful servant…”
*The usage of quotes by does not mean author agrees with entire article written by John Rittenbaugh and does not serve to show endorsement of The Church of the Great God.
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