Why Division?
Why Division
Somewhere in our thinking, many of us have erroneously
embraced the idea that when God moves, peace
and tranquility prevail. This concept was succinctly stated
in a radio broadcast when the minister explained it thusly:
Frequently we are mixed up when it comes to defining
a movement of God. We think that confusion
of any sort indicates that the whole thing is of Satan.
Nothing could be further from the truth. A move of
God always upsets the equilibrium of established
order. For a time it seems to bring chaos into orderly
lives and churches. The smug, complacent, and self-satisfied
are tremendously disturbed. It is quoted
that ‘God is not a God of confusion but of peace.’
This is true, but only in the Church will this peace
be found. In the world, as well as in the ‘merely
professing’ church, there is to be found confusion
and every evil work. The move of God upsets everything
carnal, fleshly, selfish and devilish.
In the fourteenth chapter of Acts we are told of a
movement of God. It took place in Iconium, and the
evangelists were Paul and Barnabas. What happened was
not just an isolated instance; such events seemed to have
been much the pattern wherever Paul and Barnabas
preached. Arriving at Iconium from Antioch in Pisidia,
they witnessed the same sort of confusion as had transpired
elsewhere.
Acts 14:1:
And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went
both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so
spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and
also of the Greeks believed.
There was a mighty turning to God among the Jews
and the Gentiles; but all was not sweetness and light.
Acts 14:2:
But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and
made their minds evil affected against the brethren.
Did the attitude of the unbelievers stop Paul and Barnabas
from ministering? Not at all.
Acts 14:3:
Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in
the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his
grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by
their hands.
How could they cease preaching when God continued
to do great signs and wonders under their ministry? But
despite these marvels of grace, there were those who
would not believe.
Acts 14:4:
But the multitude of the city was divided: and part
held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
Here was division and confusion. Not just a home or
a church was divided, but an entire city. The tension did
not subside, but rather became worse.
Acts 14:5:
. . .there was an assault made both of the Gentiles,
and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them
despitefully, and to stone them.
Here was riot and violence. Some people will say,
“Surely if this was of God, all of this would not have
happened.” Yet this is what did happen and still does
happen when truth is taught. The powers of darkness,
even though religiously garbed, will fight. There must
always be an exposure and destruction of evil whenever
and wherever spiritual revival comes about.
Not the trouble, but the signs and wonders that accompanied
Paul and Barnabas testified to the fact that God
had called them, and that they indeed brought about the
move of God. Signs follow those sent by the Lord. They
speak with new tongues. They cast out devils in His
name. When men of God lay hands upon the sick, they
arise whole for with God there “is no variableness.” He
answers needs constantly.
These saints of God, Paul and Barnabas, barely escaped
with their lives from Iconium, but they moved on
into Lystra and Derbe. In Lystra the people wanted to
make gods of Paul and Barnabas, and the priest of Jupiter
could hardly be restrained from offering sacrifices to
them. But Paul and his companion would have none of
this activity. They intervened among these idolators and
succeeded in halting the entire proceeding. As a matter
of fact, Paul and Barnabas were so successful that the
tide changed against them and in a short time the people
attacked and stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city
supposing him to be dead.
The number of us who would like to have a part in
such a movement as this is probably infinitesimal, and yet
this was a movement of God. Experiences of this sort
could be related by the score, both in apostolic days and
ever since.
The Lollards who were organized by Wycliffe in the
fourteenth century were instructed “to go about and
preach to the poor in their own tongue, working in harmony
with the clergy if they would allow them, but
against them or independent of them if they were hostile.”
The leaders of the spiritual movements in the Church
have always been ridiculed and maligned. The confusing
element in the entire situation is that it is the religious
people, those who are deeply sincere, who cause the division.
The world appears to evince little initial interest
regarding a movement of God and pays virtually no
attention. As Acts 7 points out, it is the religious element
who are the persecutors and resisters.
Acts 7:51, 52:
Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears,
ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers
did, so do ye.
Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted?
and they have slain them which shewed
before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye
have been now the betrayers and murderers.
The Pharisees would not accept Jesus as the Christ.
The Jews stirred up the multitude against Paul and Barnabas.
The religious people of the day stoned Stephen.
Division always frustrates Christian efforts.
May God deliver us as the Church from being contentious
and difficult, from maligning our brethren, from
bickering and quarrelsomeness, from dividing the Body
of Christ by our lack of enlightenment. There is too much
division outside the Church; our solidarity is imperative
to give us strength to move forward in spite of the opposition.
May the Father in heaven, for the sake of the
only-begotten Son, bless us with such an abundance
that we may cease to be a part of the problem and become
a part of the answer. May we as members of
Christ’s Body become so filled with love that we may
be teachable and have our hearts opened to His Holy
Word. And may we receive of Him and carry the blessing
to all we meet, that they may see us and know we
are His.