'Bible Strife Unveiled: 5 Key Insights for Christian Harmony'

Bible Strife

Strife refers to a deep and ongoing conflict over a fundamental issue. It goes beyond mere arguments or disagreements and often involves bitterness and, at times, violence. Strife can be observed in various contexts, including politics, families, and even between nations. When strife occurs among believers, it tarnishes the church's testimony and dishonors Christ. The Bible warns against strife and reproves those who cause it. In Proverbs 20:3, it states, "It is to one's honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel." Similarly, Proverbs 18:6 and 22:10 emphasize the importance of avoiding strife.

However, avoiding strife can be challenging. Even in the early church, strife was present as seen in passages like 1 Corinthians 3:3, 1 Timothy 6:4, and 2 Corinthians 12:20. The root cause of strife is underlying sin. James 4:1 (NLT) asks, "What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don't they come from the evil desires at war within you?" Therefore, when a difference of opinion becomes the priority in a relationship, it can lead to strife. Pride and an unteachable spirit often accompany strife. Proverbs 13:10 states, "Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice." Strife arises when someone refuses to consider another perspective and insists on their own way. Those bent on strife do not allow room for compromise, negotiation, or humility. As a result, strife alienates friends, divides families, and destroys churches.

Throughout the Bible, we see instances of strife among various individuals and groups. For example, Abram's herdsmen and Lot's herdsmen strove with each other over grazing land (Genesis 13). Isaac faced strife from the residents of Gerar over drinking water (Genesis 26). Strife among the Israelites led to Korah's rebellion (Numbers 16) and their desire to die in the wilderness (Numbers 20). In all these cases, strife brought trouble and required the wisdom of godly peacemakers to resolve the conflicts.

God despises strife within His church for several reasons. Firstly, strife destroys unity, which is crucial to Jesus. He prayed to the Father that His followers would "be one as [the Father and Jesus] are one" (John 17:22). Anything that disrupts this unity is an enemy of the church and of God. Secondly, strife contradicts love. First Corinthians 13:1–3 emphasizes the significance of love in our faith. Love does not tolerate strife, and where love reigns, strife cannot exist. Thirdly, strife confuses those who observe the church. Jesus instructed His disciples to love one another so that the world would know they belong to Him (John 13:35). Our harmony and love for each other are meant to showcase the difference Christ makes. When we display petty strivings before the world, we become hypocritical and undermine God's truth. Fourthly, strife drives away new believers. We cannot expect new Christians to behave like seasoned believers as they are still spiritually young. However, when established church members engage in divisions, gossip, and conflict, it wounds newer believers. This behavior can drive them away when they expected a more positive experience upon coming to Christ. Fifthly, strife is a sign of worldliness and carnality. In 1 Corinthians 3:3, Paul rebukes a church for their jealousy and strife, stating that they are behaving in a fleshly, human way. Christian maturity should lead to a cessation of strife among believers. Finally, strife distracts us from our ultimate purpose of making disciples. Jesus commanded us to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). Satan fears the fulfillment of this command and therefore seeks to entangle us in our own disagreements and disputes, limiting our impact on the lost world. While gospel essentials cannot be compromised, we must remember that obedience and love are the marks of a mature believer. Allowing strife to dictate our choices falls short of the mandate Jesus gave us.

In today's world, with readily available communication technologies, creating and maintaining strife has become easier than ever. Offense has become fashionable, where people declare offense about every little thing. However, offense should have no place in the family of God. While sin should always offend us, we should never draw lines in the sand or create enemies out of anyone, even sinners. This is especially important within the church, where strife should be as rare as a snowflake on the equator. Strife among the redeemed goes against who we are as new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

It is crucial for pastors and Christian leaders to reconsider their approach if they use their positions to discredit or sow discord among different denominations and Christian groups. Creating strife among brothers and sisters has never been a biblical solution. While it is necessary to expose error and protect the flock from false teachers (2 Peter 2:1–2; Matthew 7:15), God strongly disapproves of those who create strife between brothers (Proverbs 6:16–19).

In conclusion, strife is a deep and ongoing conflict that goes beyond mere disagreements. The Bible warns against strife and reproves those who cause it. Strife often arises from underlying sin and can destroy relationships, families, and churches. God despises strife in His church because it destroys unity, contradicts love, confuses observers, alienates new believers, reflects worldliness, and distracts from the ultimate purpose of making disciples. Strife should have no place among believers, and we should strive to live in harmony and love for one another. As Christians, we must actively work towards resolving conflicts and promoting peace within the church.