Division in the Ranks
Bill Holdridge
Pastor Bill Holdridge has served in ministry for over 40 years. In 2008 started Poimen Ministries, which serves to strengthen pastors and churches through mentoring and coaching. Bill and his wife, Sheri, live in Lindale, Texas.
There is division in the ranks, and of course, I’m talking about division within the body of Christ. COVID-19 has done many things to us all.
For some, COVID-19 has been a proving ground. It has proven that the faith that some have is real, and has become stronger than ever … having passed through the crucible of suffering and the fiery trials related to these unprecedented times in which we live. For others, COVID-19 has exposed the weak foundation upon which too many have built their lives. The wind has blown, and the floodwaters have risen. Their faith has not grown strong at all … instead, such individuals have been ruined and become worse versions of themselves, and further removed from the image of Christ.
What’s to blame? Who’s to blame? Who is right? Who is wrong?
During all the relational turmoil and vitriol, the main thing has been forgotten. What has been forgotten is the single attribute that Jesus said distinguishes us as His close followers (John 13:34-35). “By this, all men shall know that you are My disciples, that you love one another as I have loved you,” He said to His apostles.
Paul the apostle stated that this attribute is greater than having all knowledge, greater than the ability to do miracles, greater than speaking in tongues, and greater even than extreme self-sacrificial acts (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).
The apostle John said that if we are without this attribute—especially in relationships with other believers—then we are liars. We are liars because we are claiming to know Jesus, and yet are not keeping His commandments. And the greatest commandment of all is that we love one another (1 John 2:3-11; 3:10-12; 4:7-8).
We Are in Debt
Did you know that you and I are in debt? We owe a debt that is directly connected to the Gospel, and directly connected to who we are, being in Christ.
- The Debt of Forgiveness.
We are in debt to one another (believers), and to everyone in the world (no matter who they are or what they’ve done) to forgive them. Forgiveness is connected to the Gospel and is part of it. In the gospel, we learn that every sin of every human being that has ever lived has been paid for. “It is finished,” Jesus proclaimed as He gave up His Spirit after hanging on the cross for six hours. He had paid the debt of sin in full.
Jesus’ death is efficacious for those who believe in Him. For those who do not (yet) believe in Jesus, their sins have been paid for, although they’ve not received their forgiveness (1 John 2:1-2). Therefore, our forgiveness of others is non-negotiable; we must forgive all others, or we’ll suffer the consequences (Matthew 18:21-35; Matthew 6:12-15; Mark 11:25-26). And there are dire consequences, indeed.
- The Debt of Love.
Romans 13:8-10: Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
We owe love (agape, God’s love) to each other. When we love another, we’ll not do any evil against them. While in the act of loving (a choice, not a feeling; an act of obedience, not some emotional whim) … when in the act of loving someone with God’s love, it is impossible to harm them in any way.
This division we are experiencing—this anger, this separation—is not pleasing to God. He is angry about it. The Holy Spirit is grieved by it. And the pride that creates the division is something God hates.
We (the Church) need to repent. That means that individuals (you and I) need to repent. Repentance is a change of mind. It’s a change of mind about the course we’ve taken and about the way we’ve been living. With repentance, for example, our opinions may remain the same, but we will hold those opinions in an entirely different way; in a way that is like Jesus and representative of His Great Name.
"By this, all men shall know that you are My disciples, that you love one another as I have loved you" He said to His apostles.
Love Is Vital If Revival Will Come
We are living in a time of unparalleled opportunity. The Gospel is THE answer for the human condition. Dead people need life, and the only life that can raise someone from spiritual and physical death is the life of Jesus. People are coming to Christ in record numbers, worldwide. Many have been praying for revival for many years. Many have prophesied that we’ll see another revival and a great awakening in the United States. But none of it will happen apart from repentance in the body of Christ. We must not mess this up.
So what’s to blame? Who’s to blame?
The same enemies we’ve always had—enemies that we battle as Christians.
- We battle the unbelieving world system (1 John 2:15-17).
- We wrestle against evil, malevolent spiritual beings under the devil’s leadership (Ephesians 6:10-12).
- We war against the great enemy within, which is our flesh; our human nature acting apart from God. The flesh is the sin in our bodies which we foolishly allow to exercise authority over our lives (Galatians 5:16-18).
It’s time to take responsibility and act like true believers.
- Therefore, we must not love the world or the things in it.
- Therefore, we must put on the whole armor of God so we will be able to stand against the devil’s evil schemes.
- Therefore, we must walk in the power of the Spirit and manifest the fruit of the Spirit in all that we think, write, say, and do.
Let’s get this right, my friends. Remember, all true believers will one day stand before the judgment seat of Jesus Christ, and will receive rewards commensurate with how we’ve lived our lives as Christians.
Much is at stake. Let’s do this.
And by the way, I’m speaking to myself as well.
This article originally appeared on Bill’s Blog and is reposted here by permission.