‘A Peaceful Environment Is Good.’
a) Proverbs 17:1. Even in a poor environment it is better than feasting and strife.
b) Genesis 45:24; 2 Corinthians 13:11. So do not quarrel.
c) Leviticus 26:6. It is the Promise of God.
d) Proverbs 12:20. It leads to Joy.
e) Matthew 5:9. God will Bless those people who try to make a peaceful environment.
f) 1 Corinthians 14:33. God is the God of Peace for all meetings in the Church.
g) Ephesians 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:13; 2 Timothy 2:22. We have to do our part to make it happen.
h) 1 Timothy 2:2. A National environment of Peace can be maintained when True Believers Pray for the Nation in which they dwell.
(Through this QT I am thoroughly persuaded that A Peaceful Environment Is Good)
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‘Resolving Differences Of Opinion And Not Fighting About Them.’
Acts 15:1-2.
a) The Church teachers who came down from Judaea to the Church in Antioch were incorrectly insisting that new Believers be circumcised.
b) Paul and Barnabas had some argument and discussion with these Judaea Church teachers because they knew this was incorrect teaching.
c) To resolve the matter, rather than there being an unpleasant scene, the Church leaders in Antioch asked Paul and Barnabas to go to Jerusalem. It was the main centre of the mission to the World at that time, to ask the leaders of the Church there about the circumcision problem. Then all could be resolved well.
(In this Second one: Resolving Differences Of Opinion And Not Fighting About Them, especially in a Church context, I see the importance of sound denominational leadership actively participating in local Churches where necessary)
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Chris.
Resolving matters rather than there being an unpleasant scene in Church matters is always a good way. The greatest danger is the Church itself, if the Church’s attitude is one of pride and if it has forgotten Grace and forgiveness then there is great negative potential for unpleasant scenes and division. The Church was never intended to be a democracy – rather it should be a theocracy where the Leaders of the Church do their best to keep the Church in submission to God’s Will. Denominational oversight and care can never be a wrong concept if that oversight is healthily and humbly maintained. “People power” should really be kept out of God’s Church.
