March 28, 2011 … Another Enemy of Humility: Partisanship

Passage of the Day: 1st Corinthians 4: 6 - [NKJV - Paul speaking – see underlined] ... Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.

My Journal for Today: Pride, both individually and/or collectively in a group, can often lead to partisanship within a family or organization – and yes, … even in a church. And when partisanship raises its ugly face in a church, it can destroy any sense of unity to which Paul wrote about to the Corinthians in today’s passage or to Christians in Asia-Minor in Ephesians 4: 1-5 [linked] …

A few years ago, our church experienced the disunity produced by partisanship when, through a drastic set of circumstances, our former Pastor left our body and drew a number of members from our church to a new church which he started up, … I assume in anger. It was an ugly situation. And shortly thereafter, another local congregation, very close to our church divided, as factions took “sides” over the issue of how their church is to be governed. In both situations, the foundation of the divisiveness was and/or is PRIDE being manifest in denial or disobedience over the first part of Luke 9: 23 … and that is, … to follow Christ we must first deny ourselves

John MacArthur, as he was writing for today’s entry in Strength for Today, correctly pointed out that the way to avoid partisanship is for ALL in any group or church … any body of believers … to be surrendered to God’s Spirit, focusing on Christ through His word, and holding tightly to a spirit of gratitude for God’s providence and His promises. To summarize MacArthur, he is saying that this spirit of surrender and search for God’s way, rather than a search to fulfill ourselves or be in control, will, in turn, fulfill Luke 9: 23 in the pursuit of Savior over self. And when we, in any church/group, do what Christ commanded in that passage, we will never divide, but rather come together, in our common focus, … Who is Christ! I think about a picture something like this …

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[Me].... Following Christ

[You] ...... Following Christ

[Others]..... Following Christ

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There will never be partisanship, disunity, and/or disobedience when this model is followed and/or maintained by the people of God. Paul said it to the Corinthians (in 1st Cor. 11: 1) … that the Corinthians could follow him [Paul] because he was following Christ. And that is what defeats partisanship and gives victory to Christ through His Church in the world.

My Prayer Today: I follow You, Lord; and so anyone following me, pursues You as well. Amen

2010 – October 31 – Prince of ... Division?!

BLOGGER’S NOTE: ... Last day of a very productive and enlightening month from my daily devotionals. I hope/pray that others who've been here with me or have experienced a similar charge of discipleship from the sharing of God's truth ... <'BB><

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Study from God’s Word… Parallel passages, primarily from Matthew, chapters 9-11, Mark 6, and Luke 9 about Jesus challenging, charging, and instructing His Disciples to go out in Galilee, two-by-two, and preach the Gospel and heal the people … Passage for Reflection: Matthew 10: 34 - 36 … NIV 34 [Jesus to His Disciples] "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn " 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law - 36; a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.' [from Micah 7: 6]

My Journal for Today: Jesus had been prophesied to be the “Prince of Peace” [see Isaiah 9: 6]. So what do we make of Jesus calling Himself to be a “prince of division” in today’s highlight passage when The Messiah was charging, instructing, and sending out His disciples into the countryside to preach the good news of the Gospel and representing Him, Jesus, as THE Messiah? And we see this conflict as Jesus even quoted a contemporary of Isaiah, Micah, who had prophesied the division of the world which would occur when The Messiah came among God’s people. But Isaiah, as we read above, had prophesied The Messiah as the “prince of peace;” ... so which is it?

And the answer, of course, is BOTH. Jesus was the Lamb of God, who came as the Babe in a manger to become the giver of peace in his death and resurrection; but then again, He was also a Messiah who would set brother against brother, father against son, and nation against nation as those who believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord would be pitted against those who reject Christ’s Lordship.

And some of you, like I have, may have personally experienced this division which is precipitated when non-believing family members are confronted by those in their family who have given their lives, as have I, to Christ as Lord and Savior. I have a sibling who has yet to surrender her heart to Christ; and my being a Minister of the Gospel, as an open and publicly declared Christian, always presents a divisive force in our relationship. And there have been times when my sister is openly hostile, almost mocking of my faith, though she has been less so in recent years Oh, I’ve presented God’s plan of salvation to my sis; but she blatantly rejected all I had to share when the message of salvation through Christ alone was laid out plainly and directly for her.

Maybe you’ve seen this division in our world; and it’s impossible to ignore that the schism between Christian and non-Christian is becoming more polarized in our world with many religions, notably Islamic radicals, being hostile to the point of declaring outright terror and warfare against Christianity. And we see political forces, like the ACLU and others, trying to eradicate any open reference to “God” or “Christ” from the public or governmental arenas.

Yes, Jesus was right. His coming as the Messiah was a fulfillment of Micah’s prophesy; and He definitely is a force of division, calling attention to the truth and the reality that one must either accept or reject Jesus as The Messiah. And we, who call ourselves “Christian,” must go out, as declared by Jesus, into a field “white unto harvest,” to share the good news of Christ as the one-and-only Savior of mankind. And if we face what Jesus’ Disciples faced, resistance ... and even martyrdom, ... well then, SO BE IT!

Because those in God’s field, who’ve heard the good news of Christ, must make a decision; and decision sometimes come from division and clear choices. Is it YEA or NAY? ... We must choose. Is Jesus the prince of division or is He the Prince of Peace?!

My Prayer for Today: Lord, for me You’ve become my Prince of Peace, King of kings, and Lord of lords! Amen