DIVIDE AND CONQUER

The strategy of 'divide-and-conquer' has been known and used by commanders of armies and war strategists forever.  King David and his armies repeatedly used it in his Old Testament exploits.  

Our spiritual enemy also understands this strategy and employs it against the church of Jesus Christ persistently and effectively.  Our history reveals the effects of this destructive opposition!

Sadly, the story of Christianity is one of division.  We see conflicts emerge even in the New Testament record when Paul's ministry began including non-Jews in the church.  Acts 15 is titled "The Jerusalem Council" and describes the resolution of a conflict regarding these new gentile believers.

Even before that, Paul and Barnabas had a falling out over the inclusion of a young convert named John Mark.  

After the death and resurrection of Christ, over several hundred years the Church had repeated councils that met - sometimes for long periods of time - to try to resolve the theology that would characterize the Church!  Frequently these councils produced creeds that are still used today to define the parameters of our faith!  [Examples: The Nicaean Creed (325 A.D). and The Chalcedonian Creed (451 A.D).

After this defining season of our faith, history entered the period of the 'Dark Ages'.  The Roman Catholic Church stood in distinction from the Orthodox churches of the east throughout this 1000 year span.  

In the fourteenth century the church imploded with the actions of a monk named Martin Luther.  Other reformers like John Calvin, Thomas Cranmer, John Knox, and Henry VIII became involved in the creation and formation of Protestantism in its varied forms.  This process was needed, but was unfortunately marked by instances of desire for selfish gain and subject to manipulation.  

The further dividing of the Church from then to now has been a tragedy that has created a  denominational progeny of a proportion that is nearly unimaginable.  The "body of Christ" has been decimated!

Of late, I've been noticing a manifestation of this brokenness that saddens me.  The political scene in America has become rife with hatred, accusation and division.  It's hard to avoid or ignore the tension it has created in our culture.  Much of this tension and animosity plays out in the social media of our day.

The recent phenomena that I've observed is the condescension of those who are of a mature faith and a higher mind, who seem to be turning on simpler-minded people who see things in a more black-and-white manner.  

Since the Olympics began my observation of this has magnified.  Whether or not you have weighed in on the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics is a personal matter.  Perhaps you didn't even see it and wonder what the hoopla is about?  Some have chosen to defend the supposed portrayal of the Lord's Last Supper by roles that most Christians would find offensive and inflammatory.  

Others have declared themselves by refusing to view the Olympics as a statement of opposition.  Many of these have felt strongly enough in their offense to post about their thoughts in social media forums. Still others - who may represent a greater maturity of faith and a broader willingness to understand the complexities of subtle meanings and artistic forms - have moderately mocked those of simpler faith for their reactive responses even offering more mature, spiritual manners of response.  

Keep in mind that both groups consider themselves to be of common faith - "the body of Christ".  

A certain modicum of grace would be expected to characterize those who would demean, ridicule or disown those of lesser faith and experience.  Proverbs 16:18 comes to mind:  

"Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall."  

If the suggestion that this breach of the walls of unity is perpetrated by our spiritual enemy, then we can openly lament this friction and the pain that subsequently follows.  

It is clear that - as people of faith - we must resist and denounce Satan's attempts to divide and conquer the Church!  Those of more mature faith, higher education and deeper understanding and foresight must exercise patience with those whose walk is less established and whose reactive factor may be more volatile.  Biblically it's called GRACE!

It's nice to be right, but it's really important to be genuinely righteous!