 
WHO IS MY ENEMY? A lawyer once asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” (Lk. 10:29). It would be appropriate today to ask, “And who is my enemy?” I say this because many brethren evidence confusion about who it is with whom they are at war. The tragedy of this is self-evident. It was a confederate soldier who shot General Stonewall Jackson and fatally pierced the heart of the Confederacy. There have been terrible mistakes in combat where pilots strafed their own comrades. In Vietnam, frustrated, angry soldiers killed their own officers. The liberal news media and politicians and many young people blame the American government for the conflict with Saddam Hussein. If they prevail the Middle-East and the world will be at grave risk from that evil tyrant.
In our brotherhood, vast amounts of energy, print and sermon time are devoted to attacking fellow-Christians. Not all of those targeted for rebuke are guilty of grave moral offenses or of clear-cut doctrinal error. More often, their offense is a new or different methodology, a judgement-call different from the traditional, or a failure to be as vehemently opposed to some man or issue as the inquisitor himself is. We see papers dedicated to an endless parade of victims to be stoned for nonconformity, lectureships devoted to thrashing the brotherhood, preachers who are totally committed to crusading against some brotherhood project, practice, methodology or personality. There are preachers who repeatedly flail the ears of their congregations with harsh accusations, dire warnings, hostile attacks and ugly innuendoes about fellow-Christians in other places.
Such negative, hypercritical preaching and writing is devastating to the faith and zeal of the average disciple. Some young converts and weak brethren will turn away from the church in disgust when subjected to such abusive teaching. They reason that if the church is filled with such evil things and brethren, they want no part of it. Others who became Christians in search of peace and loving fellowship in a world of strife, hatred and conflict, will leave with heavy hearts to continue their search elsewhere.
Their quest for peace is not a faulty one. Jesus did offer such (Matt. 11:28-30; Phil. 4:7-9).
Some brethren who are inundated with this whipping-post preaching become suspicious and doubtful of every other brother and congregation’s soundness. Falsely believing that they are the only “faithful brethren” left, they become proud, exclusive separatists like the Pharisees. Jude condemned disciples of his day “who (made) separations” as “sensual, not having the Spirit” (vs. 19). I occasionally hear from a poor, deluded brother who fancies himself the only faithful preacher left in the world. The Lord’s rebuke to Elijah is appropriate for such narrow thinkers. When the prophet thought, “I, even I only am left,” the Lord reminded him there were yet “seven thousand knees which have not bowed to Baal...” (I Kings 19:14,18). God yet has seven thousand faithful ones. Another reaction to a constant diet of carping, critical preaching is for a congregation to totally “turn off” their ears to the negative speaker. Everyone familiar with God’s Book knows that there is more to Christ’s religion than griping. They deal with their misery by ignoring the source of the irritation. Even when the negative preacher has some genuine, needed warning, his people pay no attention to it. That is why we sometimes see a congregation swing from an ultraconservative stance to a very liberal or worldly posture. They had been accosted so often with dire warnings that they grew insensitive and a real threat then overcame them.
There are times when a weary congregation will grow so disgusted with the din and clamor of the professional critic that they demand his resignation. After two or three such forced resignations, it is common for the brotherhood critic to give up preaching. With a final blast, he alleges that “no one loves the truth anymore” or “there are no sound churches left.” In reality, he has only himself to blame for his predicament.
Long years of observation have shown that each generation produces it brotherhood “muck rakers,” “crepe hangers,” “prophets of doom” and ax-wielders.” Such men rarely build great churches or accomplish notable works for God. Seldom do they pioneer the gospel in new and difficult fields.
Rarely do they win many to Christ. Not often do they stay in the Lord’s work for a lifetime, for they eventually burn all their bridges and turn on every friend. It is also observed that after the brotherhood saviors have blown through as a whirlwind those brethren they bitterly assailed are usually found patiently doing God’s work; saving souls, building congregations, preparing men for eternity. Let it be said that there is a time to mark a factious man (Tit.3:10); to rebuke a flagrant sinner (I Tim. 5:20); to withdraw from a persistent sinner (I Cor. 5:1-5). There is also a time to exhort, to edify and console (I Cor. 14:3). It is a mark of wisdom to know when to do the needed things.
In raising children, we have seen the results of children constantly subjected to criticism, cynicism and negativism. It is an evil kind of verbal child abuse that can adversely affect the child for a lifetime. So will that kind of preaching affect a group of God’s people. Preacher, “try your own selves, whether ye are in the faith; prove your own selves...” Lest ye be reprobate (II Cor. 13:5). Christian must not be blind to those who would recruit them to their personal cause or issue. Some still preach Christ of envy and strife seeking to raise up affliction for fellow preachers, schools or good works (Phil 1:15-17). Sadly, many folks sincerely lend aid and comfort to some brother with an ax to grind, only to discover later that it was some less noble, personal issue, which was the true root of contention. Paul’s admonition would serve us all well, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable...just, pure, lovely...of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things...and the God of peace shall be with you” (Phil. 4:8-9). “But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed on of another “ (Gal. 5:15). The devil, his angels and his servants are our great enemies; with few exceptions, it is not our brothers in Christ. Let us “love the brotherhood” (I Pet. 2:17) and let us “resist the devil” (Jas. 4:7). Your brother,
John Waddey |
