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| Photo from Wikipedia. I claim Fair Use Doctrine |
In 2020 we experienced
church conflict over Covid 19 policies. Some churches, seeking the health of
their congregants, developed online/internet ways of connecting rather than
meeting in person. Many folk, claiming Hebrews 10:25 “ not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing”
left such churches.
During the 1970s there was church conflict over allowing Casino gambling
in Indiana. Some claimed Matthew 27: 35 “And they crucified Him and parted His garments,
casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: “They
parted My garments among them, and upon My vesture did they cast lots.”
Early in the twentieth century many church folk insisted that women
should not have the right to vote. You know, 1 Timothy 2: 12 I permit no woman to teach or to have authority
over a man; she is to keep silent.”
During the 1880s as indoor plumbing was becoming a practical application
there was church conflict. Many quoted Deuteronomy 23: 12 “You
shall have a designated area outside the camp to which you shall go. 13 With your utensils you
shall have a trowel; when you relieve yourself outside, you shall dig a hole
with it and then cover up your excrement.”
Of course a conflict over slavery in the 1800s
Ephesians 6: “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with
respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.”
And then, reaching back into the 1600s. We have the Salem Witchcraft imbroglio.
Many claimed Exodus 22: 18” Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.”
In all of these situations, conflicts, and disputations, many insisted
on their own comfort, power, and willfulness regardless of who it may harm.
I become very befuddled and bewildered at how so many people will lift
something out of the Bible as an excuse to not be like Jesus!
We have four very authorized biographies of Jesus which describe his
ministry, teachings, actions, and attitudes.
If you claim Jesus as Lord, those biographies, or gospels, are a good
place to fix your devotional reading.
I am convinced that the next church disaffiliation-prompting conflict
will be over Artificial Intelligence. Well, think about it…robot preachers won’t
abuse children or have affairs with congregants. But I suppose some will claim
Genesis language and make the argument that robots are not created in the image
of God. Perhaps they will claim 1 Corinthians 12 as the basis for church
conflict. Supposed orthodoxy will be more important to them than the safety of
vulnerable people in the congregation.
Whatever cases of conflict going forward, let’s not use lifted- out- of-
context, misunderstood, Bible verses as an excuse to not be like Jesus.
Jesus himself has interpreted and defined for his followers the expectations
of the Law…
Matthew 27: 12 ‘In everything do to others as you would have them
do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.’
Let’s not treat that as a Pollyannic cliché.
Let’s treat it as a command from our Lord.
