OceanSide church of Christ
Previous | Return to list of articles | Next |
DISTURBING THE PEACE
Victor M.
Eskew
Peace involves a state of tranquility or calmness. It is the absence of strife,
tribulation, or warfare. A peaceful
environment is one appreciated by all.
It is a condition that every child of God is commanded to diligently
seek. “Endeavoring to keep the
unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3). And again: “If it be possible, as much as lieth in
you, live peaceably with all men” (Rom. 12:18).
To disturb the peace within a local congregation or within the
brotherhood involves one in sin.
Most brethren would agree with this statement. The problem comes when we try to
identify the individuals who are creating conflict and disturbing the
peace. Oftentimes, the faithful and
obedient are the ones charged with disturbing the peace and harmony within the
church. This is not a new
mistake. In times past, those
seeking to do the Lord’s work were charged with creating trouble among the
Lord’s people.
In I Kings 16, Ahab takes the throne in
This Old Testament illustration is easy to stomach. Ahab was definitely a wicked king and a
troubler of
Many believe the elders are disrupting the peace of the church. The unfaithful slowly drifts from the
flock. He creates no stir. He just wants to be left alone. Some see this as being peaceful. The elders, on the other hands, are seen
as the troublers. They publicly
state the name of the one who is in sin.
This makes people uncomfortable.
They exhort the brethren to withdraw fellowship. This put members of the church in a
difficult position. Because of the
feelings associated with the withdrawal, individuals see the elders as the ones
responsible for disturbing the peace.
Brethren, such thinking could not be farther from the truth. The unfaithful man has separated himself
from God. He is the one at odds
with both God and the church. His
actions initiated the withdrawal.
Had he continued to be faithful, peace would have ensued within the
church. The elders, like Elijah,
are being faithful to God. By
obeying the command of God’s Word to withdrawal (II Thess. 3:6), they are
proving that they are the friends of God (John 15:14). They are also trying to seek peace
between the unfaithful brother and God.
When it comes to identifying those who are “disturbing the peace” within a congregation, far too many think in worldly, secular, fleshly terms. We must set aside such thinking and seek the wisdom that comes from God. Solomon put it in these words: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding” (Prov. 3:5). Paul stated it in this manner: “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:17). When one calls the wrong right and the right wrong, he has committed a dangerous action. “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!...which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!” (Isa. 5:20, 23).