“Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. For such people are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.” Romans 16:17-18
When the church joins together, conflict is bound to arise. We have different opinions, preferences, and ways we see the world. Those differences often translate to some kind of disagreement that leads us to work out our differences or grow further apart. In the conclusion of his letter to Rome, Paul reminded the church to be aware of potential conflict and the root of these issues. Some people were looking to be divisive, bringing about discord instead of unity, but they were doing so in a subtle way that was damaging to the body of Christ.
We often avoid disagreement. We either give way to the person with a stronger preference or fight back until someone gets their way. Paul’s words remind us to pause and get to the root of the problem. Our attitudes in conflict cannot be reactive but must be discerning. When we slow down and discern, we can respond wisely instead of reacting according to feelings. God desires unity and wants to guide us to live peaceably with others. He will be faithful to show us how to best pursue that goal as we come to Him.
- How have you been affected by disunity in the church? What wounds has it left in you? How have you worked through that pain?
- What does it look like to be discerning in the heat of an argument? What is challenging about this?
- Pray and ask God to equip you to discern clearly when you are caught up in a divisive moment and to teach you to press forward in unity through Him.
