Apples of Gold

I enjoyed reading Aesop’s Fables as a youth. Perhaps it helped to shape my logical approach to life. “The Four Oxen and the Lion” is a tale of four oxen standing together back to back. Their position prevented a lion from attacking them. During the attack, a quarrel breaks out and the oxen leave the safety of their united position. One by one the lion destroys them. 

We find this same theme in the book of Ephesians.

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. Ephesians 4:1-3

We are called to a deliberate, intentional, conscious effort to remain united with others in the body of Christ. The Greek word, syndesmos translated bond, or binding speaks of the ligaments that hold the human body together. Although our ligaments are not visible, anyone who has injured one knows just how important their role is. Catastrophic instability and severe reduction of quality of life would result if our ligaments were not functioning properly. 

I’m sure many of you have stopped following me and already jumped ahead to the application in our spiritual lives. Human beings are going to do human things. We all mess up, have bad days, lose our temper, speak out of turn, etc. etc… This is to be expected, but God holds us to a pretty difficult standard in how we respond to these things. 

When we choose to ignore an injury, or perhaps call for an immediate amputation, we short-circuit the plan of God. Cutting off a sprained ankle seems a rather drastic approach to a very treatable problem! Wrapping the ankle, hobbling around on crutches for a while, taking it easy on the injury while it goes through the healing process is a much better long-term solution. 

Paul uses pretty strong language in his appeal. I beg you to be humble, gentle and patient with each other. Do whatever it takes to remain united. 

Aesop proceeded Paul by many years. Perhaps he was familiar with the fable. Regardless, he knew that if the church allowed quarrels and disagreements to divide them, they were vulnerable prey to the assault of the enemy. 

Jesus’ words echo this theme as well:

A kingdom divided by civil war will collapse. Similarly, a family splintered by feuding will fall apart. Mark 3:24-25

Unfortunately, I have witnessed this truth, (and I suspect you have as well), not only within my extended family, but within the Kingdom of God. The sad truth is that church splits can be traced back to something as ridiculous as the size of a slice of ham someone received at a church dinner! 

This is by no means a call to swallow unbiblical behavior and teaching. However, in my experience, personal preference and unwillingness to work through offenses far outnumber healthy, God-sanctioned division.

The chasm created during the Covid 19 era has done anything but shrink. The media and leadership encouraged hatred and blame to be thrown at the feet of any who took a different stance than the one they were propagating. Interestingly enough, the information that is currently being released reveals a deep and purposeful deception, callously disposing of humans lives, maliciously mocking proven cures, and silencing those on the frontlines. 

Something broke during this time. Differing opinions became hatred and those who held them enemies. Questions were considered undermining. The damage from this has continued to culminate, reaching a critical level as it has pervaded civil discourse in almost every area. 

Believers have not been insulated from this approach. The ligaments on the body of Christ have been hyper-extended resulting in both instability and a reduction in the effectiveness of the church in general. 

At the root of much of the destruction is an expected, but perhaps overlooked foe, pride. Pride leaves little room for dissent. Pride assumes my conclusions are superior. Pride refuses to apologize or consider the view of another.

Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

The warnings are all around us. Forgiveness is not optional. Attempting reconciliation is required, and yet the division persists. 

It is crucial that we not only read, but apply Paul’s words:

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Ephesians 4:2

May God give us the strength to look past momentary hurt and to focus on the bigger and more important factors. May we apologize when we are wrong. May we reach out and try to repair relationships when we are wronged. May we assume the best and look for the good in the lives of others. 

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives, up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7