Devotional Reflection Based on the Incident of Peter Cutting Off Malchus's Ear: “Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.” ( Mark 14:47, Today's Korean Version ) 1. Identifying the People Involved: The person who stood beside Jesus and drew the sword was Simon Peter . The servant of the high priest was named Malchus . “Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.” ( John 18:10 ) 2. Jesus' Response to Peter's Action: (a) Jesus said: “Permit even this.” ( Luke 22:51, KJV: “Suffer ye thus far”; RSV: “No more of this” ) The Greek words clarify this: “ἕως τούτου” (“heōs toutou”) = “up to this point” or “even this” “ἐᾶτε” (“eate”) = “allow it,” “let it be,” “leave it alone” Therefore, Jesus is essentially saying: “Let them do what they are doing. Do not resist any further.” “If ...
Causes of church conflict
“Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; … Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly Do not be wise in your own estimation” (Romans 12:6, 16).
How should we view church disputes? Why are churches that should be loved fighting
each other? What are the causes of the
conflict in the church? One of the
causes is the failure to acknowledge diversity. In other words, there is conflict in the
church because it does not accept the fact that there are people with various
gifts in the church.
Often when we look at a couple's dispute, we say: 'You
and I are just different, but not wrong.'
However, when I actually think about the relationship between husband
and wife, it seems that there are many times when we say ‘You are wrong’ rather
than admitting and accepting the fact that ‘We are just a little different’. As a result, the couple quarrels and fights. Likewise, all human relationships are
quarreling and fighting each other because they think 'you are wrong'. Even in the church, the reason why we fight
and quarrel when we look at human relationships is that we treat each other
with the thought and attitude of ‘You're wrong’ even though we are just different. Among these thoughts and attitudes, there is
a bitter root of arrogance saying, ‘I am right’. In other words, because there is a
deep-rooted thought that ‘I am right, you are wrong’, we criticize and
eventually even slander the other person. After all, the deep cause of contention is
pride.
In Romans 12:16, the apostle Paul exhorts us to be the
same mind toward one another and do not be haughty. The reason why we cannot be the same mind is
because of our arrogant mind. In other
words, we quarrel and fight each other because we pretend to be wise ourselves.
If you look at yourself with your own eyes
and think, ‘I am wise’, then you look at the other person with the attitude ‘I
am wise and you are foolish’, so there is no choice but to have a dispute in
the church. “Such ‘wisdom’ does not come
down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil” (Jam. 3:15). “But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition
in your heart, do not boast about it” (v. 14). If you boast, you are denying the truth (v.
14). What is the wisdom spoken of in the
Bible? Look at James 3:17 – “But the
wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving,
considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” If we truly have God-given wisdom, as
peacemakers in the church (v. 18), we must be considerate (v. 17). However, if we fail to acknowledge the
various gifts the Lord has given to each of us and judge and criticize the
gifts given to other members based on ‘my gifts’, there will inevitably be
conflict within the church.
The church is one. Because of Jesus, the church has become one. There is unity in the church, which is the
body of the Lord. At the same time,
there is diversity in the church, which is the body of the Lord. The members who received various gifts
gathered and made one body in the Lord. Therefore,
we have a responsibility to maintain unity in diversity. That responsibility is that we must all be of
one mind. How can we all be of one mind?
There is only one way. In other words, we all have the mind of Jesus
Christ (Phil. 2:5). With a self-emptying
and self-humbling heart, we must acknowledge the various gifts the Lord has
given to each of us. And we must strive
to keep the unity of the Holy Spirit by making full use of the various gifts
given to each of us in peace and tolerance with the wisdom from above (Eph. 4:3).
댓글
댓글 쓰기