One of the saddest situations that a spiritual person can contemplate is a congregation engaged in a strife, particularly in a time when it ought to be united against the growing forces of evil that threaten the stability of society and the welfare of our families. The grim reality is, however, it always will be the case that “some people” make “big issues” of “non-issues.”

There likely is not a church of any size that has not had internal problems of one sort or another on occasion. It was true in the first century (Acts 6:1-6; 1 Corinthians 1:10-12, "Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you."  And the situation which plagued the church in Corinth remains so today. This is because congregations are made up of a diverse variety of people. We teach the gospel and hope to make converts that we can help complete their journey to heaven. Each soul, though, brings his or her own personality and conglomerate of problems into the family of God.

Some people are honest, pliable, and easy to gradually mold into mature Christians. Others bring a truckload of problems with them. Some are perpetually childish, supersensitive, grumpy, and/or constantly on the prowl for a fight. The contentious, like the poor, will be with us always (Mark 14:7). The key issue is: when and how do we deal with them?

There is no simple, universal solution. Frequently the chronic complainers simply must be ignored—unless they are disruptive to the church as a whole. Usually this sort of person eventually establishes himself as an individual of non-influence. He drowns in his own sourness.

Others may exert considerable unsettling influence, and need to be addressed in a more forceful fashion—perhaps even to the point of suspending fellowship. Those who are perpetually factious and disruptive must not be allowed to damage the peaceful environment of the local family: Romans 16:17-18, "Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them."  Titus 3:9-11, "But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. 10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned." (NKJV).  The New American Standard renders V10 as: "Reject a factious man after a first and second warning"  The KJV renders this a Heretick.  These words come from the Greek word "hairetikos". which carries the meaning of someone who causes division or is factious. 

Paul had something to say to the Corinthian church about this:  1 Corinthians 11:17-19, "Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19 For there must also be factions among you."

That word "factions" comes from a similar Greek word (hairesis) which means divisions.  The former Greek word "hairetekos" means someone who causes them.  A divisive and factious person (hairetekos) if left to work his wiles causes divisions and factions "hairesis". 

So what is the fate of those who do such things?  What awaits those who practice this sort of behavior?  We do not have to speculate on this at all.  The Bible is crystal clear on what awaits divisive, factious individuals who stir up strife and divisions within the body of Christ. 

Galatians 5:19-21
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery,* fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,"  Let's stop right there for a moment before going on to the rest.  That word "heresies" comes from the Greek word "hairesis", which means factions or divisions.  The American Standard Bible translates this part of the verse as "factions, divisions, parties".  The New American Standard Bible renders this as disputes, dissentions and factions.  We have picked up more than one Greek word here at the last, but used in context, they all form a picture of those who cause disputes, dissentions, divisions, strife.  Trouble makers.  Let's return Galatians 5 and pick it back up in V21. 

Galatians 5:21
"envy, murders,* drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." NKJV     Paul gives us a whole list of behaviors here which if unrepented of and practiced will keep someone out of heaven.  Those who do not inherit the kingdom of God are not going heaven at the judgment.  They will be lost.  They will be eternally condemned to the darkness and fires of Hell.  In the context of our lesson, those who cause divisions, strife, dissentions and disputes are not going to enjoy eternal life with God in heaven.  They are living in sin.  They are living in danger.  They are going to suffer eternal condemnation if they do not repent. 

What do we do for them?  Paul tells us in 2 Thessalonians 3:11-15, "For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.

13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. 14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother."

Those who are busybodies or troublemakers, who show up but do not do any work with the congregation are to be admonished.  That means to tell them that what they are doing is wrong in a Christ-like manner.  We are not to keep company with them so that they will be ashamed of themselves.  They are not be treated as enemies but to be treated as brethren.  The idea here is that after they have been instructed, they repent and start working with the congregation and stop being trouble makers.  But what if they refuse?  What if this does not work and their behavior continues?

Titus 3:10-11
"Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned." NKJV

In dealing with sexual immorality within a congregation, Paul gave instruction regarding immorality within the congregation and a whole host of other sins which are to be dealt with in like fashion.  Please turn to 1 Corinthians 5:9-13, "I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner — not even to eat with such a person.

12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore "put away from yourselves the evil person."* (NKJV)

The immediate context of this verse is in how to deal with someone within the congregation who is practicing sexual immorality.  The KJV refers to this as fornication.  If we back up to V1 we see that the individual in view here was having sexual relations with his father's wife.  But of significance to this lesson right now, in V11 Paul expands the scope of this to other sins.  One of which is a "Reviler".  When we go to the original language, we find this word to be translated from the Greek word "loidoros" which means someone who engages in abusive, hurtful rhetoric.  This falls into the category of those who are factious, divisive, using abusive language one to another. 

If those within the congregation who are divisive, and cause strife and disputes refuse to repent when admonished, we are commanded not to even eat with them, we are commanded to  "put away from yourselves the evil person".  They are to be disfellowshipped.  This is not a suggestion.  This is not friendly advice that we are free to accept or reject.  This is a command.  And in case we are a little fuzzy on this, later on this very same letter Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 14:36-38, "If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord." NKJV   Those who cause strife, contentions and divisions within the congregation, who engage in hurtful and abusive language are to be turned away from our fellowship. 

These people may have the best intentions.  It is possible they may even be right in what they are contending.  But even if this were the case, one can be right on an issue but wrong in the way they present it to others.  2 Timothy 2:24-25, "And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition" (NKJV).   Those who engage in this sort of behavior cannot justify it on the grounds of whether or their position is right or wrong.  They cannot and must not conduct themselves in such a way that it causes division within the congregation because of the way they have acted.  This sort of behavior is forbidden by scripture.  There are ways of handling such things without tearing a congregation apart, or hurting someone within it to the point they are uncomfortable, or want to leave our fellowship entirely.

We never ever want to give the impression that if something is said or done which is contrary to scripture, that someone shouldn't speak up.  It is the duty of every Christian to admonish one another, to edify one another, to help build each other up in the most holy faith.  And if it the case that one Christian needs to speak up to another, it is to be done gently, with humility, not with abusive, quarrelsome and hurtful language to the point that it causes strife and/or division within the body. 

Those who have engaged in this type of behavior need to repent now.  They need to apologize to anyone and everyone who have been hurt by their behavior.  If their behavior has caused damage to the congregation, then they need to extend an apology to the congregation and repent. 

If they have issues with something that is being taught in or done in the congregation, then they need to find a way of communicating it that does not cause strife, hurt and division within the congregation.  Such things ought not to be in the body of Christ.  We are to be "blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world" (Philippians 2:15).   If we are quarreling and fighting amongst ourselves, we are not shining as lights in the world, and nobody on the outside looking in is going to want to be a part of that. 

If the congregation fails to act according to scripture, then the congregation as a whole has failed to act in accordance with scripture.  Those who are the leaders within the congregation who have failed to hold such people accountable have failed the entire congregation and need to repent as well.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jesus pronounced a blessing upon the peacemakers, not upon the strife-causers.