Bro Kenneth Yoder
I John 2:9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
I1 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in daftness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
We are studying the theme of the tests of genuineness of a claim to know God. I want to enlarge upon one of these tests which is, Loving Your Brother. There is a conspicuous lack of love among God's people. This has resulted in an atmosphere of phoniness among people who claim to know God. This phoniness is damaging the testimony of the church more than we realize.
The above text teaches that if one claims to be living in the light but does not love his brother, in reality he is living in darkness. Also notice, I John 3:14,15 We know we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
The expression, "hateth his brother", may be too strong for us, but we either hate or we love. Hate can take many forms: slander, gossip, grudges, revenge, bitterness and unforgiveness, to name a few. There are too many of these kinds of attitudes among us. Some manifest characteristics of hate in spite of their claims to the contrary.
It is hateful attitudes that make it impossible to have fellowship with God or with one another. If you searched until you discovered the underlying reason for much of the broken fellowship that exists among us, you would find that it is these hateful attitudes. Our worship is unacceptable to God if we are not reconciled to each other, (See Matthew 5:23,24). Too often, those who attend the same church do not love one another. You cannot hate anyone and be in fellowship with God. You cannot hold ill-will towards any human being and be in the light. If the members of a congregation do not love one another, the spiritual atmosphere of their worship has an artificial and spurious spirit about it, because people are not genuine with each other.
Our love for one another should be genuine. Romans 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. The word "dissimulation"' means hypocrisy or pretense. This states that our love should be sincere and genuine. One of the dangers that develop when Christians do not love one another as they should is expressed in Galations 5:13-15 For brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if you bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
Let's study this passage in detail. In the thirteenth verse Paul writes that Christians have been "called unto liberty". Then he issued a warning, "only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh". The liberty specified in this passage has reference to the personal freedom that we have as individuals before God. I must answer to God for myself, and you must answer to God for yourself. We are allowed a degree of liberty of conscience or personal freedom. I cannot fully decide for you, nor you for me, but each of us must answer before God. In the exercise of personal freedom there is a possibility and a danger that we will misuse it as an occasion to please ourselves. This is what Paul was warning against. I answer directly to God for the way that I live, and you answer directly to God for the way that you live. This personal freedom has some Scriptural limitation that restricts the exercise thereof.
Let's notice a chapter of Romans.
Romans 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? To his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. Paul said this in reference to Christians who were judging one another in the matter of diet, (see Romans 14:2,3). This is what is meant by personal freedom or liberty. You and I, my friend, must answer directly to God. The Bible teaches us not to judge one another. God is our Master before whom we stand or fall.
Romans 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. This introduces the idea of each being fully persuaded in his own mind. This reflects the concept of personal freedom. We must develop honest convictions as in the presence of God from the light of the Scriptures. Each must be persuaded in his own mind what is the will of God concerning moral issues or situations.
Romans 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Most of us probably have been guilty of this at one time or another, because we judge according to the light we have. Again, this verse focuses our attention on the idea of personal liberty as individuals before God.
Romans 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
My point in quoting these verses is to exhibit the Scriptural principle of personal liberty that each has in Christ. Personal liberty is possessed and enjoyed in the light of one's own conscience before God. Personal liberty involves the responsibility of answering for our own actions and attitudes before God. Sometimes, however, this personal freedom can be misused as an occasion to gratify selfish fleshly desires. People hide behind personal freedom and allow themselves license to do that which is wrong. One misuses personal freedom when it becomes an excuse for wrongdoing.
Even though we are individuals before God, we are also closely associated and related in the Lord. If you know Jesus Christ as your Savior, then the same Holy Spirit that dwells in you dwells in every other Christian. This sharing of the same Spirit is the foundation of the fellowship that we have in Christ. There are many practical issues that must be addressed before our fellowship can become a workable reality. Nevertheless, we are one in Christ by the new birth. We are members one of another.
Whenever a person's misuse of personal freedom results in being a stumbling block to another Christian, then personal freedom must be restricted.
I Corinthians 8:13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. One's personal liberty is restricted by whatever would cause another to lose his relationship with God. If my liberty would cause another Christian to lose his soul, then I must put their spiritual welfare before my personal freedom. My love for them would demand this.
What does the expression, "occasion to the flesh" mean? The word "flesh" in the Scriptural sense, refers to the self-regarding element in human nature. The 'flesh" is that factor that is prone to self-pleasure and self-gratification. That is what the word "flesh" represents. Paul is teaching that we should not serve self-interests, "but by love serve one another". Someone may ask, "Brother Yoder, do you mean that another man's conscience should govern my conduct?" Yes, to an extent, that is true. How could anyone claim to love someone, if they knew that what they were doing would cause that person to lose their soul and yet refused to change their conduct? I realize that this may be a hard saying to some, but certainly not to one who loves his brother.
I Corinthians 8:9-12 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat /hose things which are offered to idols; And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ
One of the obvious evidences of a lack of love among us is the abuse of personal liberty in pleasing ourselves instead of serving the spiritual interest of other believers. If we loved one another, we would be more considerate and discreet about how we lived, where we went, and what we allowed.
Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. This passage states the sum of the law of God. The whole spirit and intent of God's law is to love your neighbor as yourself. That means we should have the same regard for his welfare and interests, as we do for our own.
Romans 13:8-10 Owe no man anything, but to love one another for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. In this passage Paul states the same principle that he did in Galatians, except he enlarges upon it. He taught that we should love one another and that love is the fulfilling of God's law. He listed five different commandments: those concerning adultery, murder, theft, lying, and coveting. He concluded by declaring that if you love your neighbor, you will not commit any of these sins against him, because "Love worketh no ill to his neighbour".
The particular work of the flesh that Paul was warning the churches of Galatia against was quarreling or strife. Galatians 5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. This letter was written to several congregations in a general area called Galatia. In Galatians 1:2 Paul addressed them as the "churches of Galatia". It would be like referring to the churches of Northeastern Ohio. It was a regional fellowship of a group of churches. There had emerged among them some "agitators". An agitator is someone who stirs up strife. The church is not exempt from the wrong kind of people coming into her midst. Peter warned that as there were false prophets in the Old Testament times so there would be false teachers among Christians, (II Peter 2:1). Paul also warned the elders from Ephesus that there would arise men from among their own ranks that would lead others astray, (Acts 20:29,30). This has happened repeatedly throughout the history of the church.
This regional fellowship in Galatia was biting and devouring one another. The idea that is expressed by this language is that of a pack of wild dogs tearing one another apart. It’s a rather graphic picture of some of the conditions we are faced with today. I am sorry to have to report to you there are churches that are in danger of extinction. The danger of extinction is not coming from without but from within their own fellowship. They are in danger of becoming extinct because of a lack of brotherly love. They are biting and devouring one another like a pack of wild animals tearing one another apart.
In Galatia there was controversy, quarreling, and strife among them. This was caused by agitators who had come in among the people. Paul was warning them that if they didn't stop this activity, it would not only lead to disintegration of their fellowship, but it would lead to the complete disappearance of their churches. It is possible for a church to devour itself; it is also possible for a people to disappear as a congregation, simply because of biting and devouring one another. Some mistakenly believe that since God takes care of the church and since the gates of hell cannot prevail against it, we have nothing to fear. That’s a false security. Those Scriptural promises only refer to the church as a whole. The truth that the Church will never cease until Jesus returns is not true of every local congregation nor is it a guarantee that they will continue to exist. In fact, if you would try to find the congregations that were established by the Apostles, you couldn't, because they have ceased to exist. There is no guarantee that any congregation will continue until Jesus returns. A congregation will only continue as God's people as long as they walk in the light, and are true to God.
Rarely is it an evil force from the outside that comes in and overwhelms a congregation, but rather it is hatred and bitterness that arises from within their own fellowship. Often it is because they refuse to accept the Biblical formula for reconciliation, (See Matthew 18:15-17). Unresolved conflicts generate all kinds of unloving attitudes until the congregation or fellowship destroys itself by backbiting and devouring one another.
This warning is one which ail of us need to be reminded of from time to time. In fact, some congregations are presently devouring them-selves. I had heard much preaching several years ago about how the world-wide movement of communism was going to engulf America and that our freedom of worship would be lost. The church was stirred by that kind of preaching and guarded against communism. We need to be concerned with this and be warned against it, but while we are standing guard against the lions of evil the little foxes of evil are devouring us. We are in danger, not from an outside evil force, but from an unexpected inside evil. We are in more danger from gossip, lying, holding grudges, unforgiveness and bitterness than most realize.
There are three consequences that result from biting and devouring one another. The first one is mental and emotional exhaustion; the second is confusion; and the third is loss of a vision. Let us briefly study each of these consequences.
The first result of this devouring of ourselves is that we become so mentally and emotionally exhausted that we have no energy for the service of God. The exhaustion that one experiences in working for the Lord does not come from the labor of preaching. It does not come from labors to win lost souls. Exhaustion arises from broken relationships and disharmony that result because people refuse to be reconciled with one another. The constant strain that issues from broken relationships is extremely exhausting. The general condition of the church is one of exhaustion. This is the consequence of the life-and-death struggle between the extremists in the church today. By extremists I mean both the conservative radicals and the liberal radicals. These extremists on both sides are the agitators today. They are stirring up all kinds of strife and quarreling. Many people have been instilled with a fighting spirit. We are taught it is all right to hate this person or that one because God hates evil. There is an element of truth in this, but it has been greatly perverted and twisted. An agitator can get people stirred up. They think they are having a revival when in reality they are having a carnal fit. People become emotionally stirred, implanted with a fighting spirit, and believe it is the stirring of the Spirit of God. This quarreling and strife has left us very little time, energy or resources to up the Kingdom of God. This is the reason our people are exhausted and worn-out.
The second consequence that arises from biting and devouring one another is that we are in confusion. The strife caused by both the liberal and the conservative extremists has translated into a very unsettled situation. Many are not sure what to believe anymore. They are not sure what the Bible teaches. Several traditional positions and standards are being severely questioned today. First, we should acknowledge that the Scriptural support for some of the traditional positions has been very weak. The questions that people are asking today are not answered satisfactorily. Some attempt to settle these matters by simply claiming, "God showed me this or that." Our people need a Scriptural foundation for their beliefs. We need Biblical principles to guide us. Some get disturbed with me, but I am going to continue to demand Scriptural principles for our positions and standards. It's the only way to find the life that is pleasing to God.
Another reason that people are unsettled is because they don't know how much of our past teachings have been traditions of men nor how much is grounded in the Scriptures. The extremists on both sides really thrive in a time like this. The extreme conservatives, by appealing to the fear of compromise, demand that we keep every tradition. The extreme liberals, by appealing to the few errors of the past, demand that we question every traditional position and standard. Both of these extreme positions are wrong.
Are you one of those who demand that we must keep every tradition? Some argue, "We have preached this for fifty years." My reply is that if we have been wrong for fifty years, there is no reason for us to be wrong for another fifty years. An honest man will never twist the Bible to support what he considers to be the truth. If you twist Scriptures to support your position, your position is in error.
Now, a word to the liberals who want to throw out the traditional standards and positions. You are throwing out far more good than bad. The church has benefited greatly from most of the traditional standards because they have protected God's people from many dangers.
We must not allow either of these extreme positions to stifle a serious study of the Scriptures. Let me say this for your encouragement: these conditions can provide an opportunity and atmosphere in which to study the Word of God earnestly and seriously. To arrive at definite, Biblical positions one must study and think deeply on these issues.
Let's conclude the thought of the consequences of biting and devouring one another by looking at the third consequence which is that of losing our vision. Biting and devouring one another has robbed us of our vision and our hope in regard to the future. Local congregations and camp meetings that people have given their energy and resources to, have been demolished before their very eyes. This experience has robbed them of inspiration to attempt anything for God. The predominant attitude is one of discouragement arising from the disappointment and disillusionment caused by strife. The strife in our midst has left us with no forward-looking, aggressive zeal for the kingdom of God. When a congregation begins to tear itself apart, ifs people will lose their hope and vision.
We are in a crisis, but let's overcome it. I repeat, we need to learn how to love one another. How shall we accomplish this? First, we must rid ourselves of every form of hate, every grudge and all desire for revenge. All our bitterness must be laid aside. We must seek to be reconciled to our brothers and sisters. If we are not reconciled to the point of being in harmony, our worship will degrade to a formality. An atmosphere of phoniness will fill our places of worship because we are not true to one another.
Pastor, you can make the members of your congregation meaner than junk-yard dogs, ready to fight and bite everyone. You can turn God's people into a pack of wild dogs, tearing one another apart. Seriously consider this question: Are you a part of the wild-dog pack?
Remember this, brethren, whenever you instill a devouring spirit in God's people, it is only a matter of time until that spirit will turn on you. Is it possible that the spirit that you are now fostering will become the spirit that devours you? Some are already suffering from hateful attitudes that they've helped to spawn. They are suffering from attitudes that they cultivated. Some are reaping what they have sown.
I challenge you to read your own heart. Is there a brother or sister that you have ill-will against? Go visit them or call them on the phone or write them a letter and get the matter resolved between you.
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. *END*