WATCH OUT FOR THOSE WHO CAUSE DIVISIONS
WATCH OUT FOR THOSE WHO CAUSE DIVISIONS
“I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people” (Rom. 16:17,18).
Rome was the capital of the ancient world and consequently was a melting pot of races, creeds, and nationalities. In such a cosmopolitan community division in the church was an ever present danger. Each new convert came to Christ with the baggage of their own ethnic heritage and prejudice. For this reason the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to emphasize over and over the importance of unity!
While the whole letter to Rome is both inspired and relevant, permit me to select a few verses to emphasize the importance of not being divided:
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“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourselves more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourselves with sober judgement, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body and each member belongs to the other” (Rom. 12:3-5).
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“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another with brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Rom. 12:9,10).
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“Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you, bless and curse not” (Rom. 12:14).
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“Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Rom. 12:16-18).
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“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:21).
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“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law” (Rom. 13:8).
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“Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the lawl” (Rom. 13:10).
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“Clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of your sinful nature” (Rom. 13:14).
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“Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgement on disputable matters” (Rom. 14:1).
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“Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put a stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way” (Rom. 14:13).
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“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification” (Rom. 14:19).
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“We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: ‘The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me’” (Rom. 15:1-3).
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“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God” (Rom. 15:7).
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AFTER ALL THESE ADMONITIONS TO BE UNITED, NOW YOU CAN UNDDERSTAND WHY PAUL WARNED TO WATCH OUT FOR THOSE WHO CAUSE DIVISIONS!