The Romance of Romans-Part 126

Romans Chapter 16 cont'd

I urge you to take note of and avoid those people who cause divisions and offenses by embracing or promoting doctrines that are contrary to the ones you have learned. These kinds of people are not concerned with serving the Lord Jesus Christ, but with filling their unsatisfied desires. They employ good-sounding words and manipulative monologues that deceive the hearts of the undiscerning.

Comments:

Dealing with divisive and offensive people and/or groups is always difficult and can tend to distract us from a positive-oriented forward movement in life and ministry. It can also be confusing and oppressive for our minds and emotions. A number of questions rise in my thinking as I ponder this subject.

Do we forebear or confront? How can we measure if a matter is worthy of a confrontation? Do we go to someone who has offended us in private or bring a few others into the mix for counsel, prayer support and/or as witnesses? Do we warn others of spiritual danger? Do we speak out publicly on a matter and expose falsehood? Does God call some to such tasks, but not others? Do we leave a matter in the hands of God alone to deal with? Do we simply avoid a matter and even a person or a group of people? And...now that the globe is connected via mass communications...which errors do we pick to confront and/or expose, since we can research them all. Our entire lives could be swallowed up by presuming to be the universal cops of the spiritual landscape of the earth. I know it's not this last option for any of us!

Following are some of the convictions I have come to over the years of leading communities of faith that have caused practical and workable actions to present themselves.

I am convinced that these kinds of situations and our proper responses to them are always on a spectrum of severity...and usually without hard and fast dividing lines between the phases. We need more than raw principles or laws to go by in these situations...we need the real-time and direct spiritual wisdom of God to settle upon us for the proper timing and application of scriptural principles. We are called to be "peacemakers" as children of God, but this is not the same things as being a "peacekeeper". Peacemaking involves putting things in their proper places and this can often involve confrontation, righteous judgment and sanctions. Sometimes a confrontation, rebuke or fight becomes a necessary evil. However, peacemaking is always about praying and looking for minimal fallout and for the redemptive purposes of God to win the day.

Another thing is that the closer we are in relationship to a person or a matter, the more we have a right and responsibility to face them/it. Often, our designated function within a community can also inform us of our right and responsibility to deal with a difficult person or matter. Another principle is that it is good to confirm, confine, contain and rectify an error to as small a circle of people as possible. However, when a scandalous sin or a crime has been committed, it is better for the guilty to suffer than for the innocent and confession should cover the same social scope as the knowledge and damage of the offense.

One final thought on this complex issue (and so much more needs to be said)...when others "go public" with their erroneous and sometimes dangerous, beliefs and teachings, public challenge and criticism is warranted. We must be careful to not misrepresent what another is actually teaching and a personal "behind the scenes" inquiry and/or challenge might be called for, but ultimately, if one has the moxie to take his/her teachings to the public square, it is only fair to expect those who may disagree to openly say so. If one can't take the heat, then she/he needs to get out of the kitchen!