Are You Causing Division?
"Why are there two congregations of the church of Christ here in town?" This is a question often asked of members when doing personal work. A sad commentary indeed it is when one finds nearly as many different answers as there are questions asked. Sad, because in the very shadow of devastation many still will not study the Word of God and try to thwart division.
The biggest cause of division anywhere and during any period of time is a lack of love for the truth. This lack of love can be manifested in many different ways in destroying unity. In this article I should like to suggest four ways of manifesting a lack of love for the truth. The first of these is a
Failure To Study
This is a sickening condition when we perceive it among aliens whom we are trying to convert. It is no less nauseating to find it among God's children — those who have avowed loyalty and obedience by embracing it. Diagnosticians point out that this was one of the main contributing factors which allowed the missionary society and instrumental music to sever the body of Christ in the last century. Those recording the history and reviewing the happenings of our day will be able with like passion to realize that there was a great neglect on the part of God's children to search His precepts. Nearly all admit our responsibility in this realm but with one mind most are busy with the rapidly passing events of our time and do not find the necessary periods of respite to properly delve into the word of God.
Even among those who do read their Testaments there are still many who manifest a lack of love for the truth by a
Lack Of Application
Many need to take a dose of the plea we have carefully and diligently presented to followers of denominationalism. It isn't enough to just know what an inspired writer penned, but one must also apply the message. To this thought we would be even more emphatic in suggesting that a proper application must be made.
It is readily understood that God directed that an ark should be built to save the faithful from the flood. And it is just as readily understood that this command was given to Noah and not to those of this present dispensation. We both understand and gladly make the proper application of this passage. The passages concerning present day problems are frequently misapplied and sometimes not applied at all. Often, when they are applied, they manifest in another way the lack of love for the truth by the applicator; that is, by
Prejudice
Prejudice is one of the greatest weaknesses of man. Again, among aliens we've seen many deny the truths of God because of a prejudice against some church member formerly of their acquaintance. Others have shown a prejudice against a doctrine that would prohibit the religions of men. But these seem trivial when compared with prejudices as exhibited by "Christians". Those who turn away, because of prejudice, from a true application of that which they've embraced are doing so not only to their own destruction but also are pointing others to a way which "the ends thereof are the ways of death".
We have the solemn obligation to accept the truths of God for what they are — and must NOT try to change their applications to what we WISH they were. Among those who study with an open mind and truly try to ascertain the truth there is manifested perhaps the most pathetic condition of all. It is the person who realizes what the truth teaches but who brazenly stands in
Rejection Of Divine Law
This is the sad condition of many brethren today who will not release their hobbies nor change their perverse teachings even though they know the law condemns their actions. Thank God that those who show their lack of love for the truth in this way are in the minority. Most brethren are basically honest — with themselves, anyway. But those who are not ought to be quaking in their boots — else they've forgotten what God will do to the unrighteous.
Perhaps there are many suggestions as to why people are manifesting their attitudes in the foregoing ways. We might mention family ties, friends, preacher-itis, occupational hazards, etc. The one thought that needs to prick and provoke the minds of BRETHREN is that we're not so careless in any other affair of life as we are in religion. We'd not venture onto thin ice without first testing it, nor drive upon a new road without knowing "where it lead" and "if we could get off" whenever we desired. So also we need to be warned about the end of the way we're traveling religiously.
Why are you subscribing to the teaching you presently embrace? And, if it leads away from God, what are you going to do about it? Are you, in your lethargy, one who is contributing to or actually causing division?