In last week’s article, I ended it by asking a few questions pertaining to the storms in our lives, especially when they are not caused by anything we have done and are the fault of others. On speaking to a few folks over the last week, I realize that some of the greatest storms we encounter are within us as our minds become battlefields and our hearts are ravaged by hurt. Unfortunately, frequently these storms are caused by Christians.
In an article written on January 11, 1927, in the Harvard Crimson, the student newspaper of Harvard University, Dr. J.H. Holmes, professor of Philosophy at Swarthmore College, who had just concluded a trip around the world on which he met with Mahatma Gandhi, quoted some of what Gandhi had said about Christians. These are a few of those quotes - "I believe in the teachings of Christ, but you on the other side of the world do not, I read the Bible faithfully and see little in Christendom that those who profess faith pretend to see”; “Their prosperity is far more essential to them than the life, liberty, and happiness of others”; and "The Christians are the most warlike people.” Dr. Holmes encapsulated in this one statement all that Gandhi had said about Christians - "I like your Christ, but not your Christianity."
Although Gandhi said this nearly one hundred years ago, I believe some of what he said is still true today. Actually, this may have been true when Jesus walked the earth. John 2 states that Jesus did not commit Himself to all those who believed in Him because they saw the signs He did as He knew what was in man. Some Bible translations say that Jesus did not entrust Himself to them or plainly, Jesus didn’t trust them. I wonder if Jesus can trust me knowing what is in my heart. Many people often get hurt by Christians because they expect so much more from them than they usually give. And when those expectations are not met, then a storm within ensues and many are left offended, angry and often with feelings of rejection. Those feelings are often projected outward which causes a storm within the church resulting in division and disunity. The Apostle Paul addressed the Corinthians about a storm in their church.
For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. 1 Corinthians 11:18-19
Many new churches are formed from churches splitting in a disharmonious manner. The root of that is hurt and so the foundation of many churches is not strong because they were established on strife. Harmful church doctrines created by man and not God are often points of conflict that cause church splits. Apostle Paul addressed legalism in the Galatian church and encouraged them to walk by the Spirit and not by the flesh. Too often legalists try to use doctrine to control members of the church, and this is carnal.
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Galatians 5:16-18
Many storms are created in churches because many folks are not being led by the Holy Spirit, but rather wanting to do the things they want, in the way they want, when they want. It becomes all about them instead of preferring the other and loving others as they would love themselves. This is very sad and destructive, because when our opinions and even doctrines oppose loving others the way God would have us do, then we cause a lot of hurt.
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! Galatians 5:14-15
What else can I say after that? When we are not loving others as ourselves then we can be causing much hurt and creating many storms not only in the churches, but also within the hearts and minds of those who are being affected by the lack of love in our church communities. Sometimes we are so busy doing what we think is right that we forget to show love through even a simple phone call to see how someone is doing. Sometimes what we think is right can be very wrong when we are not loving God’s way and therefore this causes storms within.
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