We have no shortage of controversies, in and outside of The Church.
On A Global Scale-
Some want to continue using fossil fuels as we have been; some want to eliminate their usage all together.
On A National Scale-
Some cheered for impeachment; some cheered for 4 more years.
On A Local (City) Scale-
Some want a bridge, and some don’t…Some want to increase services to the homeless; some just want them to leave.
Just reading these, I’m sure your opinions (mixed with all sorts of emotions) bubbled-up to the surface.
And though it is appropriate to have viewpoints on these and other things, and there are certainly things we have the right to and should be passionate about; I would ask those who belong to Christ to consider keeping the “Main Thing,” the “Main Thing”- “Jesus Christ and him crucified (1 Cor 2:2).”
In John 18, Jesus said to a government official as He was on trial to be put to death, that His “kingdom is not of this world,” and that He had come into the world to “bear witness to the truth.”
Let us remember that we too are not of this world, and that the Kingdom we are a part of in Christ is much higher than the kingdoms we build in this world. Let us remember that Jesus has us too in this world to bear witness to the Truth, not simply our own worldly-kingdom-ideologies.
In Titus 3, Paul tells us to insist on the Truths of the Gospel and to devote ourselves to good works, for doing so is excellent and profitable for people. Immediately, and in contrast to those things, Paul then says to “avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless,” that those things stir up division within The Church.
Friends, I have opinions about the Super Bowl halftime show, the political parties and candidates within our nation, the wars our nation gets involved in, the homeless crisis facing our city, the causes of many of the crises our world has experienced, country music, and which breakfast cereal is best- But I must discern whether or not declaring, engaging in discussion about, or standing on a soapbox about those opinions would be divisive to The Church, and more importantly, become an obstacle to someone with differing opinions hearing and receiving the Gospel. And with that, I have to be willing to listen to other’s opinions on those things without dismissing them or missing out on an opportunity to show and share Christ with them.
I have to ask myself which kingdom I will focus on promoting with each thing I say, write, post, or film- mine or His?
Jesus didn’t concern Himself with deconstructing the kingdoms of his world (e.g. Rome), He concerned Himself with building His. When we concern ourselves with building-up the Kingdom of Christ, instead of tearing down others and building up our own, Christ’s Kingdom continues to advance and He stays the “Main Thing.”
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
1 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom.
2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,
4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.