The Romance of Romans-Part 126

[Michael]

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 of is 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 need to get out of the kitchen!