Disagreements Between Individual Christians

Feature 3 – November 2020 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Disagreements Between Individual Christians

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity” (Ps. 133:1 KJV ). This is God’s desire. However, human nature and tendency are quite the opposite to all that is in harmony with God and Christ – and the Christian way of life portrayed in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord tells us that offense will come: “Woe unto the world because of offenses! For it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh” (Mt. 18:7). The wars and strife, conflicts and fighting that are taking place in the world are all because of sin.

Whenever it is seen among believers, we know that its source is the fleshly nature in us. James asked, “From whence come wars and fighting among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?” (Jas. 4:1). Apart from Cain, who acted wickedly and killed his brother, the first disagreement and strife we find among men in the Bible was between the herdmen of Abram (later known as Abraham) and Lot. Genesis 13:5-9 says, “And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together. And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. Is not the whole land before thee? Separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.”

I do not believe that at the first sign of disagreement the course to take is separation. Neither do I believe that separation was Abram’s first thought. Yet, when all godly means have been tried and have failed to bring peace and common understanding, then the final recourse is separation. Here in Abraham we see that it was the spiritual man, having the interest and honor of God at heart, who took the first step to bring about peace and harmony. Such a man has nothing to lose in this world, and he has no agenda but that which God desires for him.

Abram was concerned for the testimony of God. For we are told that the Canaanite and the Perizzite lived in the land. We must always bear this in mind: the world is looking on. By the way, whose land was it? Was it Lot’s? No. God gave the land to Abram, but he was willing to give it all up to have peace between him and his nephew Lot. This is the way of faith – to give up that which men would call their right.

The saints at Corinth were not living as brethren but were taking each other before the courts of the land to settle their disagreements. This was very upsetting to the spiritually minded person. The apostle Paul said, “I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? No, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goeth to law with brother and that before the unbelievers. Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? Why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren” (1 Cor. 6:5-8).

Why do I need to let everyone know that I am right and my brother is wrong? Is this not from my sinful fleshly nature and the pride of my heart? What could I stand to lose that I cannot give up to my brother? What earthly goods, men’s applause or reputation are dearer to me than Christ and my fellow believer? Pride cannot take a low place, cannot say “I am sorry” and cannot say “I was wrong.” It takes the spirit of Christ to be humble, apologize and admit wrong. It requires His meek and lowly spirit to see my brother or sister as greater and better than myself.

If it is always my feeling that I can say or do something better, then my heart is full of arrogant pride. I therefore need to humble myself before the Lord and before my brethren and repent. We may have disagreements with one another, but let us be careful not to put down someone else nor be so easily offended that others feel they must walk on eggshells, so to speak, around us.

When Christ is filling our hearts, it makes things so much easier. May each of us allow Christ to be Lord indeed of our lives. Then we can smile at disagreements and work them out to the glory of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

By Milton Jamieson