The Struggle for Truth with Unity

Our world says, "You're okay, I'm okay." "What you do is your own business." "What you believe is okay." The apostles warned the early Christians that it was NOT okay to believe whatever we wanted. If we do, we are on a slippery slope to heresy. The battle ground for Christians is Truth! True reconciliation seeks to bring emotional peace and doctrinal unity. This is the message of the following verse.


2 Timothy 2:23-25 ~ Again I say, don't get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. 24) The Lord's servants must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone. They must be able to teach effectively and be patient with difficult people. 25) They should gently teach those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people's hearts, and they will believe the truth.


We are to seek to help others discover the truth. Some Christians are on a campaign, fighting on all fronts to establish the truth, and their behavior is the opposite of this passage. Christians need to be ready to do the following in a spirit of reconciliation.


1 Peter 3:8-15 ~ Finally, all of you should be of one mind, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds. 9) Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate when people say unkind things about you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God wants you to do, and he will bless you for it. 10) For the Scriptures say, "If you want a happy life and good days, keep your tongue from speaking evil, and keep your lips from telling lies. 11) Turn away from evil and do good. Work hard at living in peace with others. 12) The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil." 13) Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14) But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don't be afraid and don't worry. 15) Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.


May I suggest that we are too preoccupied with one another and not occupied enough with seeking Jesus' face and longing to share Him with a needy world? Our eyes need to be on Jesus and not on each other.


Hebrews 12:1-3 ~ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. 2) We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God's throne in heaven. 3) Think about all he endured when sinful people did such terrible things to him, so that you don't become weary and give up.


When we feel burdened over the divisions in the church, we need to take that burden to God in prayer and pray for other Christians and protection against Satan. We are in a spiritual warfare! We need to confess our sins, and seek the truth that is revealed in the Scriptures because then and only then can we really know the truth about our Creator. Only then can we really know Him!


Fighting and harming one another will not bring the truth of God's Word to the place of honor and reverence it should have. Obeying God's Word and treating others as Christ has instructed (commanded) that we should will do more to reveal TRUTH than anything else we can do.


May God help me to live and relate to others in such a way that He is glorified and His Word is displayed in a tangible way. May I cease from causing deeper divisions among Christians by attempting to debate and argue for my views to be accepted by others.


May I live in such a way that God's truth can be seen more and my personal views not quench the ministry of the Holy Spirit as He reveals truth in a way no human being possibly can.


Brother Jerry H. Miller / brothermiller1@charter.net