Our Differences

OUR DIFFERENCES - PART 1

I want to share today with every believer, some things that I feel that Jesus wants us to know about concerning our differences. I would like to ask all of us to answer the following questions from our hearts and as honestly as we possibly can:

Do our doctrinal differences affect only our confidence, trust and faith in God or are they having an adverse affect on those in the body of Christ?

Does my stand of faith on certain subjects bring hurt, harm or division to others?

Do I attempt to force my beliefs on others to make me feel some how better, more spiritual or more superior than others?

Does my doctrinal stand on baptism, salvation, tongues, giving or spiritual gifts make me more spiritual than my brothers?

Do I respect others views while still able to hold to what I believe from the Word of God?

How many bodies does Christ have on this earth?

Where and who am I in the Body of Christ and what is my function, gift and calling?

Is my purpose for building up the Body of Christ or have I become a snare, stumbling block or hindrance to the other members of Christ’s Body?

Though I don’t agree with every brother and his doctrine; do I have a disagreeable spirit?

Does my knowledge of the Bible bring knowledge to help others or puff me up intellectually?

Is my faith in God, and my doctrines, actually seen in my life or just heard when it comes to debating or discussing with others within the body?

Isn’t it time for the Church to arise and shine for the Lord Jesus Christ? Isn’t it high time, if we are those who are to usher in the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, to allow 1st Corinthians: 13, to be seen in our lives?

1Co 13:1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.
1Co 13:2 And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
1Co 13:3 And if I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profiteth me nothing.
1Co 13:4 Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
1Co 13:5 doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil;
1Co 13:6 rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth;
1Co 13:7 beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
1Co 13:8 Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall be done away; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall be done away.
1Co 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part;
1Co 13:10 but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away.
1Co 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child: now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things.
1Co 13:12 For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known.
1Co 13:13 But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

Let’s all search our hearts today and see if there be in us any hurtful way that might cause our brothers to stumble. Let each of us as we grow in Christ be a fruitful vine, walking in the love of God and in the place that God has called each of us to walk, without malice or hurt to the other members of the Body of Christ.

OUR DIFFERENCES - PART 2

Brothers and sisters, isn’t it time for those of us who say that we are Christians and love the Lord to quit walking purposely in the flesh? Isn’t it time that we put away foolish things such as our differences and are personal likes and dislikes and begin to walk in the Spirit of Christ more and more as we see the day of His appearing coming soon? Isn’t it time that we stop looking down at others because of their lack of knowledge or understanding or teaching on certain things? Doesn’t the Bible teach that we should honor one another and esteem each other more highly than ourselves? Let’s look at the scripture and see where we might have missed it:

Jas 3:13-18 (KJV): “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”

It seems as though some of us have used the wisdom that we have acquired to achieve some high status or position in the church, where as the scripture tells us explicitly that we are to receive the Word of God with meekness. We have allowed this wisdom of God which is to have its work in us personally, to measure up some how to our spiritual status to one another. This is man's religion in its most carnal form. There is no need of denying it, we have all probably done it at one time or another, but we should have stopped by now! It is time to put away foolish things and walk in the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Let us look again at the above text. The wisdom that is above is first what? It is pure, not done as a braggart, not to bring strife, without hypocrisy, and without partiality. Does that represent what the body of Christ in America sounds like? If we are honest, we will all agree that the answer is no.

Again, if we look into our own church fellowship, we will see that we still are isolating many members for one reason or another. The truth is plain to see. We have become a group of people who gather together to show each other what we know and what we can do. This is all for showmanship. We are not really connected to one another in our minds eyes, but rather in competition with each other. I believe this grieves the Lord as it also did the Apostle Paul in the text below:

Co 12:12-31: “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body?
But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.”

Most of us have read this many times in our lives but have never relegated it to the ‘whole body’ of Christ. We have only pictured it or saw it as we have been in the local church where we are currently located. The truth is that these scriptures are meant for the church world wide! We are not to look down on any member of the Body of Christ, any where or for any reason. We are to prefer one another, love one another and forgive one another as Christ has forgiven each of us. This means in spite of our differences, we can and must forgive and walk together in love and peace. Pride is a terrible thing that we all need to contend with. It puffs up, makes us seem as though we are something when we are not and causes each of us to become more and more separate from one another.

How can we visit those in prison, reach the homeless, those in need of shelter, clothing and have lost everything if we are constantly fighting and bickering among ourselves. Do those who see us fighting, hating and bickering want us to come and deliver them? The answer is, probably not! Even if they are hurting, they will only want what we have, not what we claim to be as a Christian. Jesus said in Matt25:44-45, “Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?" Then shall he answer them, saying, verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of these, ye did it not to me.” I know that for some of us, these scriptures hit the deepest part of the heart, but they are true and we know it very well."

We must seek change within our own lives and hearts if we are going to please the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. The change must come from recognition, first of all, and then repentance must follow with works of righteousness toward one another. James 1:21-26, “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.”

The question remains will we accept one another, will we arise shine as the Lord Himself anoints and sends forth His church in the last days to a dieing world who is looking for the answer to their problems and needs? What are you willing to do, where are you willing to go and whom are you ready to forgive and stand beside in these last days to see the Lord’s return?

OUR DIFFERENCES - PART 3

One of the things that we can do is recognize where we are at and how we may have separated ourselves from others in the body of Christ. There are several view points that I would like to share with you as we continue our teaching.

The first point that we will look at is that we ‘all’ feel that we are right with our beliefs, traditions, teachings and doctrines. However, we know that we are not! But there is a deeper truth that we know and need to recognize and adhere to, and that is that our truth or biblical doctrine was never meant to separate us from one another or puff us up.

The second thing to remember is that those whom God has given to lead us and teach us in the Word of God are not infallible. They are not perfect in any way shape or form! They are men and women of God that He has gifted to present His Word through and help us so that we can grow up into a mature man or woman in Christ. Ephesians 4:11-13: "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.”

What we have done instead is to ‘exalt them to a place’ that is equal to Christ, rather than to esteem them highly for the work of God. 1Th 5:12-13: “And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.”

We have exalted them so highly, that they now think that they deserve more than anyone else in the Church! We need to repent for putting them in such an exalted position. If you look at the Apostles of the Lamb, you will see that they started out in the flesh also, but they put away foolish things and were ready to die for the cause of Christ. Have we become a church that only talks the talk but who will never walk the walk? What did the apostles, prophets, men and women that God placed in authority within the early church do differently than those we see on TV today? Did they not suffer for Christ? Were they not persecuted for His name sake? Were they not willing to give up, if necessary, their own lives for Jesus and for His Gospel? Oh, how far we have fallen from His true riches, grace and calling for our lives.

The third thing, that we might need to remember are those who are sent as missionaries or apostles for the work and ministry of Jesus. They are also vessels that have been hand picked by the Spirit of the Lord Jesus. They are if sent by the Spirit of the Lord, not picked by men, not by themselves or even members of a special board group. These whom the Lord has called, he has chosen, he has anointed and separated for his own purpose and mission. Many people put these folks up on some ‘spiritual pedestal’ without realizing it, but this too is very dangerous! Listen to what Jesus said in Luke 17:7-10: “But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.”

Can you see the contrast to what people are saying and doing today? We are telling one another and ourselves that we deserve to be looked up too. Some of us are saying, "Look what I have done for the Lord. I deserve the best. I deserve more because I have sacrificed!" This is not what the people of God said and expressed, is it?

Act 5:41, “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.” 2 Th 1:3-5, "We are bound to give thanks to God always to you, brethren, even as it is meet, for that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the love of each one of you all toward one another aboundeth; so that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which ye endure; which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God; to the end that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer.”

Does this mean we can’t believe God for the covenant promises in the Word of God? No, absolutely not! However we need to keep our priorities right and our focus where it needs to be in this last day - That is on Jesus, His Word and the grace he is giving so we can all, together, achieve righteousness in the Kingdom of God.

The last point I would like to look at are those who think so little of themselves that they will do nothing for the King of Kings. They have been looked down upon for so very long that they don’t have any self worth. They aren’t the beautiful people according to the flesh. They are those who people pass every day but think nothing of them. They are the ones for whom Christ died, but seemingly others are not willing to recognize as part of the body. Our eyes have been focused on the TV and magazines and other media so much that we have forgotten who our bother is and who belongs to the world! These ordinary people are loved by Christ and needed to be used in the body. We must speak to one another and encourage one another not because of what we look like or where we come from, but because it is a commandment of God.

Let’s all do our part, building one another up in the admonition of Christ, strengthening one another, accepting one another and loving each other until Christ returns.