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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Division (07/13/23)
Our family has always been engaged with interdenominational para-church organizations that play as large a part in our lives as the church. In my eighty years of living, sixty-five of them as a Christian, I’ve seen much painful, often shameful, division in the body of Christ. How can this be, Lord? How can Christians be trying to destroy the ministry of fellow Christians? My husband, and years later, my son, were both unjustly attacked at different times and about different issues. I’m not saying they were innocent victims. We all have spiritual flaws and self-deceptions and have much to learn from facing accusations.

Once I got over my initial defensive indignation about the accusations, I always asked the Lord what was to be learned. What are You doing? What needs to be changed? I wasn’t the one being attacked, but as the mother and the wife, how could I comfort or encourage without getting in God’s way?

I saw attitudes that needed transforming. I recognized them because the Lord was convicting me of similar attitudes! Ah, the deceitfulness of our hearts. But I could only be responsible for my own attitude. I had to leave all judgment about the accusers and the accused up to God. I had to trust God to “work (some thing) together for good” out of the division, knowing that my husband and my son loved God and wanted to serve Him. In each case, they resigned from their jobs, and I had to resign to the fact there wasn’t going to be a neat, decisive fix to the ugliness of sinful division.

However, I came to see that division often leads to multiplication.

In my husband’s case, a tempting offer came his way. The offer had prestige and generous personal perks but no mention of serving the Kingdom of God. My heart sank. But then, to my great relief, my husband shook his head, turning away from that offer. I knew God was at work.

Not long after, the president of a ministry that was focused on the” Kingdom of God” (a phrase that kept ringing in my head) contacted my husband and we both knew immediately that God had led these two men to each other—true kindred spirits.

That is not to say there were no further divisions down the line. Not between these two men, but of course, through the years, there were many differences of opinion with other believers on staff. But my husband had countless opportunities to be the hands and feet of Jesus in this ministry.

In my son’s case, a false highly speculative innuendo was one cause of his being given the “opportunity” to resign from his non-profit ministry. There was someone else who wanted his job, feeling my son was more committed to helping internationals than the local poor. There was truth to that insight, but not justification for the metaphorical back-stabbing that took place.

My prayer was for God to use my son's vocational crisis for spiritual growth—to not let the injustice become a tragedy for him or for his family. Jobs are hard to find. Especially when there are unexplainable attacks on one’s character. But God! Once again, the Lord showed Himself as the faithful provider and discipler. It was a hard year of humble soul-searching and receiving insight from the Lord. God brought into his life men who recognized his international vision, who had business heads (which my son knew he lacked), men who wanted to be a part of his God-given vision—and a new ministry was launched. Service to the poor, international and local, had been divided and multiplied.

Isn’t that what happened when *Paul and Barnabas went separate ways over their opinion of Mark? Who knows what attitudes needed refinement during that division? But God did the refining and the Kingdom of God multiplied. Let that be our hope and prayer.

*Acts 15:39-40
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Anne Warden 
07/20/23
I learned recently how important it is for us to use negative circumstances as opportunities for positive prayer. Then let God do the rest.

Thank you so much for this well-written reminder that divisions can inevitably turn into multiplications when we don't put our hands into it, but pray and trust God to work.
Laurie Kiel 
07/27/23
What a perfect title and important message bringing Paul and Barnabas at the end for a powerful close.

Excellent job and congratulations on your well deserved second in EC.