Devilish Division
Theme of the Week: Spiritual Balance
George Verwer
Monday, July 25, 2005
 1 of 1
Key Bible Verse: Make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly … and working together with one heart and purpose (Philippians 2:2). Bonus Reading: Hebrews 5:11-6:1
Our enemy isn't a funny character with horns and a pitchfork, but a clever, even attractive, being who deceives and sows havoc. Once a person commits his life to Jesus, Satan does all he can to get him off on a tangent so that his Christian life will lose its impact.
His goal is to polarize us into different camps, sniping away at one another, rather than working together against him. Tempers rise, people grow upset, and start reacting to one another in the flesh. After polarizing comes paralyzing, and the Devil has won!
We are in a war situation. But that doesn't mean our fingers always need to be on the trigger. Those who are militantly orthodox can often be unloving. It's easy to end up with your doctrines all correctly labeled, ready to hit your neighbor over the head!
We also need to distinguish between basic Christian principles and the policies of a particular church or movement. I'm amazed at how Christians can get so uptight about trivial matters. Musical tastes, style of dress, using pews or chairs in church, all can cause confusion and division.
—George Verwer in No Turning Back
My Response: A distinctive I treasure, but which should not alienate me from faith-brothers, is …
Adapted from No Turning Back (Tyndale, 1983) by permission.
Copyright © 2005 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity. 1 of 1
 share this page
Lord, I realize that Satan would love to switch me off on some siding. Please keep me on the mainline of Your will for me.
Men of Integrity
Connect with God | Transform my Mind | Live by His Power
Relate Better | Make an Impact
Home | Archives | Contact Us
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Try an Issue of Men of Integrity
Free!
|
 |
|
No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders.
If you decide you want to keep Men of Integrity coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless.
Give Men of Integrity as a gift
Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
| |
|
RSS Feed
