Strife in the Church
Strife in the Church STRIFE IN THE CHURCH
By Wm S. Willis
Introduction
Brethren and Friends: May I express my appreciation for this honored privilege of being on this program with sucn a fine group of splendid speakers. And here in this great College of the Bible and Christian education. When Brother Straiton asked me to be on this program, and assigned to me the subject of “Strife in the Church” my first thought was to present the subject in a general way. Put after a more serious consideration, I shall speak particularly. concerning s,trife in the early church.
I. Strife in the Church at Jerusalem (Acts 6:1-7)
Soon after the church was established on the day of Pentecost, we find strife had entered, and over material things being brought into the church. If we are to understand this condition we must look into the cause and effect of this strife.
Immediately following Pentecost, and because of the miracles, wonders and signs performed by the apostles, great fear came upon the whoie church. The disciples believed that the Lord was coming soon to receive them up into glory. For the heavenly messengers had told them at the ascension that they would see him coming back to the earth, in the same manner they had seen him taken up from the earth. And if this be true, they would have no need for their houses, lands and goods, therefore, they sold them and brought the money and laid it at the feet of the apostles.
Barnabas sold his land and brought the money and laid it at the feet of the apostles. There were two other members who owned property and sold it. These members were not as unselfish as was Barnabas and the other members. They brought only a part of the money and laid it at Peter’s feet. Ananias, and his wife pretended that they had brought all the money. This act of selfishness cost them their lives and caused great fear in the hearts of all the members. This socialistic plan of financing the church, did not las,t very long. It placed too great a responsibility upon the apostles. Its requirements were too drastic upon the members. And the human elements were too strong, and murmuring soon arose over how7 the money was being distributed.
At the beginning of this common fund plan, every-thing was lovely. The disciples were all of one heart, and one soul, and had all things in common, and every man wTas given as he had need, and no man lacked in anything. But selfishness soon entered the hearts of the members, and murmuring began. And strife was greatly hindering the prayers of the apostles, and the preaching of the word of God. Something had to be done.
“And in those days when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom you may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude” (Acts 6:1-7). May we pause here to note how this matter was handled and settled. When the apostles saw there was strife in the church, and that it was hindering the progress of the work, they did not mention the trouble or strife but approached the matter from the expediency of prayer and of the word of God. And may we note also that these men were to be appointed by the church and not by the apostles (or preachers). The apostles called the whole church together and laid before them a plan of procedure; laying down the qualifications upon which these men were to be appointed, but left the responsibility upon the church. And after these men had been sought out “Whom they set before the apostles, and when they had prayed, they laid their hands, on them” (Acts 6:1-7).
These men were to be responsible for the financial affairs of the church and to be teachers and evangelists in preaching the word. Two of them became very prominent in the early church: Stephen and Philip. These men must be led by the Spirit without the written word. Therefore it was necessary that the apostles lay their hands on them imparting unto them the power to perlorm miracles in the presence of an unbelieving world. This gift of manifested powers departed with the death of the last apostle. It had fulfilled its mission in guiding those who gave to the world the written word of the gospel. The laying on of hands is not necessary today as we are led by the spirit through the written word.
Because of murmuring and strife the church had ceased to grow. Most of the apostle’s time was being given to this strife, and they had no time for prayer and for the ministry of the word of God. Brethren, how true this is today. There are many fine gospel ministers who are kept so busy with strife in the church, they have no time left for the ministry of the word, and no spirit for prayer. This should not be. When strife is removed from the church, it will begin to grow and prosper as did the church at Jerusalem after strife was settled. “And the word of God increased: and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7).
Friends, I have dealt at length with strife in the church at Jerusalem because material things had been brought into the church. Today, much strife in the church is caused by material things being brought into its program and worship. Brethren, thes.e things shouM not be.
II. Strife in the Church at Antioch (Acts 15:1-31)
About thirteen years following “strife in the church" at Jerusalem we see it again. This time in the church at Antioch. Here it was caused by false teaching in the church. And the question was circumcision.'
Before we enter upon this discussion, it may be well to look at the background of the church at Antioch. Following the death of Stephen u great persecution arose against the church and the disciples were driven out of Jerusalem. “They went everywhere preaching the word." Some wTent as far as Antioch and set the church in order among the Gentiles. Report of this, church reached the apostles at Jerusalem and Barnabas was sent down to take charge. When he arrived he found a work much too great for Mm to handle alone. And he went to Tarsus, and brought Saul (Paul) to Antioch where they remained with the church “a whoife year" preaching the gospel and many were obedient to the wrord. In the meantime Peter came down to look this work over. When he arrived he found such a wonderful fellewosliip lie entered and sat at the table with the Gentiles.
There were others who came down from Jerusalem professing to have authority, and demanded that all Gentile converts must be circumcised before they could receive fellowship or even be saved. This caused a great strife between the Gentiles and Jew's in the church. The Jews withdrew from the Gentiles. Peter withdrew also, taking Barnabas with him. This was, a serious matter. It had shaken the very foundation of the. church. It was threatening to overthrow all lor which Christ had suffered and died. Peter wras afraid of controversy with the Jews. Biot so with Paul. He entered into this fight with all his strength, soul and spirit. He “stood Peter to the face before them all.” He tells us about this fight in his letter to the church in Gaiatia (2nd chapter). Paul was too much for these false teachers. The matter was carried to Jerusalem, to the church and before the elders and apostles. We see Paul and Barnabas in Jerusalem confronted with the most serious question in all their experience with the church. If they should lose their case, Judaism would supplant Christianity; Satan would triumph over Christ, and hell would prevail against the church. This matter was handled wisely and prayerfully. All evidence and testimony was produced. Arguments were made by all concerned, A.decision was reached, and a verdict was rendered. Peter vindicated himself by defending the gospel against false teaching, and Christianity against Judaism. Circumcision in the church was condemned by the elders and apostles. The false teachers were reprimanded. Paul and Barnabas were given the right hand of fellowship in their great work with the Gentiles. Brethren were sent down to testify to the settlement of this trouble in the church, with letters from the elders assuring them that circumcision would not again be taught or brought into the church, and condemning the false teachers as impostors, not having authority from the church. “Forasmuch as we have heard that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, ye must be circumcised, and keep the law; to whom we gave no such commandment” (Acts 15:24). And there was great rejoicing in all the church.
Brethren, false doctrines and teachings have caused much ‘‘Strife in the church.” And not only false doctrines, but sometimes we have made non-essential things the test of fellowship which has led to strife, contention and division among the brethren. All truth must be taught. But we should give much thought and prayer to such things that might cause “strife in the church” among the brethren who may not understand as, we do. Therefore we should “study to show ourselves approved unto God, workmen who need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
III. Strife in the Church at Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:1-16)
Some years following “strife in the church” at Antioch, we see it raising its evil head again. This time in the church at Corinth, and over the question of human names. In the former cases we have studied, w7e find these matters were settled in the church, by the elders and apostles. But here we see Paul trying to settle this grievous question by writing a letter to those strife- torn and divided brethren. Here strife had carried its evil intent to a division among the members of the church. Paul in his letter tells us that those brethren were actually divided over human names. Some wanted to be known as Paulites; some as Apol- losites; some as Cephasites; and some were still wearing the name of Christ.
Paul tried to settle this condition by rebuking and reproving those brethren for their divisions, and by exhorting them not to wear human names. We do not know the results of Paul’s effort with tne church at Corinth. But we do know that human names have come down through all the ages even unto this present day. My friends, “Strife in the church” is, the greatest hindrance to the growth and progress of the kingdom of God. It is the greatest stumbling-block to the preaching of the gospel. It has caused more sorrow than all other sins of the world. And human names is the blackest sin of all Christendom. We may ask any ten people we meet if they are Christians, and probably, seven will be wearing human names, and will deny the names recognized in the New Testament for the church of Christ. My Christian friends, we need to restudy the cause of “strife in the church” and when we have learned the caus.e, we should be as determined to stamp it out as were the elders, apostles and Paul in the early church.
Every sermon preached, every lesson taught, should impress upon those who hear, the importance of wearing the name given at Antioch, and to recognize the names given in the New Testament that the church must wear. And that “neither is there salvation in any other. For there is none other name under heaven, given among men whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
We must teach that this name is “far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name, not only in this world, but in that which is to come” (Ephesians 1:21). When all honest, sincere seekers and believers, of the truth are willing to do what Paul did, we can remove all strife from the church, and Christ will be given the “preeminence in all things unto the church” (Colossians 1:18). For Paul said, “for this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom all the family in heaven and in earth is named” (Ephesians 3:14-15). The time allotted for this, address will not permit further discussion. Therefore, I shall close with the words of the beloved apostle Paul, which is the only cure for “Strife in the church.” “Now I beseech you brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but, that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10).