CYPRESSWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST
August 7, 2005
FAMILY NEEDS TO BE LIFTED UP IN PRAYER:
Our congregation Our nation, military and leaders
David, James and Leon in the military Various friends, relatives and co-workers
BAPTISM:
Margaret’s granddaughter Hannah was baptized into Christ last Sunday.
THE BODY BROKEN II
“I in them and you in me - so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:23).
I am reviewing a new book by Jack R. Reese called The Body Broken, published by Leafwood, 2005. Last week we looked at the thesis of the book, at attitudes that have caused gossip and division in congregations. This week we will look at the rest of the book.
Chapter two is called “Suffer the Children, the consequences of divisive behavior” (p. 27). We are facing cultural change; in my view from a modern to a post-modern society. While some congregations are prepared to face the challenges, many are not. Because of this conflicts arise and those not familiar with or willing to examine these changes will face hard times. This leads to hard feelings, pain and separation. Some can handle that, many cannot. Far too many leaders are not concerned about these challenges; rather they see it as a challenge to their traditions and react with fierce determination to resist the change and those who ask questions. As such, they justify ungodly behavior as defending the faith, which means labeling instead of listening, spreading gossip instead of seeking the truth, and allowing false or pass on reports to influence how they see others. What they fail to see is that our beliefs influence our behavior. People hear what the Bible says and then see how people tear others apart, and wonder what is wrong. Some stay, many leave, tired of the divisiveness, legalism or liberalism seen in such situation. And leaders wonder what is wrong? “They don’t buy the hermeneutic that produced it. They especially don’t buy the attitudes that spawned it” (p. 43). “People they admire in their church are muzzled” (p. 45). They are frustrated and tired of the hypocrisy.
For some reason, we think, contrary to what the Bible clearly teaches, that if we “do” the right things in the assembly, then we are right with God, no matter how we speak and act. See Isaiah 1, Amos 5, and Matthew 15, all of which clearly teach that this is wrong. It is not that what we do is not important; it is. But if we do not have the right heart and spirit, then it really doesn’t matter how perfect our forms are, we are wrong. It is an attitude that we must be alert to in our lives.
In chapters three through six, Jack looks at four churches and how Paul encourages them to strive for unity. At times he uses his own expanded translation to highlight his point. Philippians is the first. We often see this congregation as a positive group of people but when we read 4:2-3, we find that all is not well. Written to the church in Philippi with the elders and deacons (1:1), Paul will make his argument leading to a resolution of the difficulties between the two sisters. He called this chapter peace and proximity. Among the points made is that we should be willing to seek what is best for others, not considering ourselves, just like Jesus (2:1-8). He reminds them that both Timothy and Epaphroditus had this attitude. By the time he gets to the two sisters, his arguments being made, he urges the Philippians to deal with the situation before it divides them. We see here congregational responsibility. It is not just the elders who are responsible; we all are to make the effort to develop peace and bring unity. Jesus called this the peacemakers (see Matthew 5:9).
The next book is Ephesians and the walls of hostility between the Jews and Gentiles (see 2:11-22). Whether written to the church in Ephesus or as a circular letter to a number of churches, Asia Minor was a hotbed of conflict among Christians. Walls were broken down in Christ, why rebuild them or others? Paul reminds them what God has done in their salvation and in uniting diverse people into a common body. They need to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (4:2-3). The walls in Ephesus were racial or national; Jew and Gentile. We too have built walls. Some are racial, black and white or Hispanic and Anglo. Others are between the modernist and the postmodernist. I like to explain this with what Jesus said. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. The modernist emphasizes mind and strength, the postmodernist heart and soul. Because of this conflict, a wall has been build between the two. In Christ we should not have this (see Galatians 3:28). How do we tear down these walls? We must be humble and patience.
The third church is the one in Rome. Reese reminds us that the church probably began by Jews who had migrated to Rome for various reasons. In the process, Gentiles were converted and incorporated into the Jewish aspects of the church. Then Emperor Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome (see Acts 18:2). The Gentiles began to develop their own aspects of church. When the Jews returned five years later they found a different church then when they left. Paul writes addressing this situation. Both Jews and Gentiles were sinners, none were righteous (see chapter 3). Then he discusses baptism to these believers. We died to sin and are alive in Christ, under His rule, not sin’s. All of us are in Christ (see chapter 6). How do we attain unity? In chapter twelve, he encourages them to make every effort to achieve and maintain unity (vs. 12-18). We are to accept one another in Christ (14:1 through 15:7). It takes effort, It requires us to take a look at traditions and see if we can do it better. It is to listen and to ask difficult question, unafraid of where our study might lead us. It is to pray.
The final church is Corinth, the most divided church in the New Testament. This church was influence greatly by its Greek and Roman culture. Each of the divisive elements can relate to some culture influence. Choosing which preacher to follow was the like the students of philosophers fighting over which was better. The conflicts of eating meat and the Lord’s Supper both related to the ways of the Corinthians society in general. Once again, while everything is permissible, not everything is beneficial. We should seek what is best for others, not ourselves (see 10:23-24). Do things that build up and edify the church (see 14 where at least five times Paul emphasizes this idea).
Reese isn’t a utopian. He realizes in the final chapter that not all will follow the ideas and suggestions he makes. Some, if not many, will continue to maintain the attitudes that they have developed over the years. How do we handle this then? One, we need to be confessional. We all have sinned and we all have displayed bad attitudes. Second, we need to repent. Pride often interferes with this. Rarely does one see an elder or preacher respond in repentance. Fear, something Jack also emphasizes in this chapter, causes us not to respond because we might lose respect or position. Finally, we need to “live as if.” What does that mean? We life as if people already behave properly. We live as if they have repented. We treat them the way we want to be treated, the Golden Rule as we call it (Matthew 7:12).
Reese realizes that not all will do this. “Relationships are messy” (p. 168). It takes work. We are responsible for how we act. But not all will respond positively. What then? Using the idea of “healthy teaching” (sound in the older translations) found in 1 and 2 Timothy, he draws this conclusion. As difficult as it is, “We can no longer afford to tolerate, much less support, those who sow seeds of discord among us. However they may rationalize their behavior or characterize their opponents, they are purveyors of unsound doctrine; they are unhealthy teachers. As Paul clearly instructed Timothy, we must have nothing to do with these sorts of behaviors (2 Tim. 2:23). The health of the church is at stake” (p. 169). Tough words here, but needed. Whether preachers, elders, or some members, we cannot allow divisive attitudes to simmer in the congregation.
Jack does not address specific situations, a wise thing to do. Rather it is a challenge for each congregation to face these difficulties and work through them with the peace of Christ. It will not be easy but with God’s help, it will bring unity to individual congregations and to the brotherhood as a whole.
George B. Mearns