Sunday, November 6, 2016 am
OTHERS 2016
How We are NOT To Treat One Another
Today we conclude our study of the “one another” passages as they relate
to how we are to conduct ourselves as brethren.
We have noted many of these.
In this final lesson, (also the final thoughts on our theme for
the year), we want to notice some “one another” passages that tell us
how we are not to treat each other. You
will notice in this study how many of these are related to one another.
a.
The Bible is
straightforward in declaring this point.
As Christians, we should not seek to sue each other.
b.
The context, 1 Cor.
6:1-7 explains why we should not do this.
i.
We are to be livings
lives that magnify God and His work.
This depends upon us acting like we are the brethren we are
supposed to be.
Possibly, knowing that we will judge angels and the world (vs. 2-3)
means that by our godly examples, we convict the ungodly – removing
their excuses for their sinful behavior.
ii.
Putting the fate of your
relationship with your brethren in the hands of the ungodly can do
severe damage to your relationship with them, not to mention the body of
Christ as a whole (think of an ungodly judge making a ruling that is
imposed on everyone in the congregation).
Why? Because they
don’t about God’s word and ways.
c.
As brethren, we ought to
be able to resolve such issues internally.
We ought to be able to appeal to godly and seasoned brethren to
help us resolve such conflicts.
And we need to do it with humility and a willingness to accept
their decisions EVEN if you don’t like it.
d.
BUT this will only work
IF we treat “one another” as the brethren we have been discussing both
in attitude and action.
e.
Thought: In this text,
we are reminded that the way we deal with one another has a bearing on
the world around us. The world
is watching, and with critical eyes.
This is very true today where standing for what is right is
viewed with increasing hostility.
Remember Philippians 2:14-15 – we are to shine as lights in the
midst of this crooked and perverse generation.
We are to act so when they revile you, they may be put to shame – 1
Peter 3:16.
f.
We are also reminded
about priorities – we should not be so caught up with worldly pursuits
that they hinder our fellowship with one another and with God.
As Paul said in vs. 7, why not
rather let yourselves be cheated (If it causes God to be glorified in
the end, or preserves the church)?
g.
Finally, let God handle
it – Romans 12:18-21.
a.
We have addressed a
number of godly attitudes in our studies – love, kindness, bearing with
one another, considering and edifying one another.
But a part of being godly toward one another involves knowing
what attitudes we should NOT have.
Our text notes that through love we are to serve one another (Gal.
5:13). Then Paul notes,
BUT if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed.
This is a description of brethren behaving badly toward each
other.
Biting means to cause harm or
discomfort. The word is only
found here and can describe a snake bite or a sting.
This text is its only usage and describes doing and saying things
that cause hurt to your brethren.
Devouring means to eat up ravenously, to consume (BDAG).
As used in this text it describes one who set out to destroy his
brother/sister in Christ.
This is the “win at any cost” mentality.
This is the, “I’m going to get you for what you said/did to me”
disposition. This is the
ungodly attitude of the devil (cf. James 3:14-16).
A good WORLDLY illustration of this attitude is our current political
election. Look at the way
our candidates are absolutely DESTROYING each other with hateful words.
And look at how it has harmed us as a nation and society.
NOW: Imagine this attitude in the Lord’s body.
This text is descriptive of an ugly spirit that is poisonous to
the body and to the cause of Christ.
NOTHING good comes out of brethren who are behaving in this
ungodly manner.
NOTE: Let us keep these thoughts in mind as we engage in our current
political process! DON’T let
your politics drive a wedge between you and your brethren!
b.
Several negative “one
another” passages are related to this.
i.
Hateful and hating one
another - Titus 3:3 -
Hateful is a word that means
loathsome or despicable.
Here Paul is talking about this is the way one is behaving toward
others. This is one’s
actions.
Hating is a word that means to
detest or to hold in strong aversion.
This is the ATTITUDE that leads to our hateful behavior.
This is in a context where Paul reminds us of our former conduct (before
we were Christians). Often times
those of the world act in hatred or with a hateful disposition (perhaps
these are slightly different in meaning, but they are clearly related).
As Christians we just don’t act that way anymore.
ii.
Provoking and envying –
Galatians 5:26
Shortly after Paul warns us not to bite and devour one another, he
reminds us to walk in the Spirit meaning let the Spirit rule us
(fulfilling His word – cf. Galatians 5:22-23 – the “fruit of the Spirit”
is what we manifest).
When the Spirit governs us we will not
provoke each other – a word
meaning to challenge someone (here it is in a hostile sense), to defy.
Think of someone who is looking
to cause trouble, trying to get someone to react in a bad way.
It should not be our goal as brethren to push each other’s buttons.
iii.
Envying
is the sin of jealousy of another’s success.
It is a sin resulting from discontent, pride, materialism and
bitterness. As Christians,
rather than being envious, we should rejoice for the good fortune of our
brethren (Romans 12:15).
Good never comes from such an attitude.
This attitude is also described as demonic and worldly (James
3:14-15). It is a work of
the flesh (Gal. 5:21). It is
the product of one obsessed with disputes and arguments over words
(knowing nothing) – 1 Tim. 6:3-4.
a.
This is one of the ways
we bite and devour one another.
This is one of the ways we are hateful toward each other.
Often the product of envy is evil speaking.
The word means to speak degradingly of, to defame or slander (BDAG).
This is the word found in 1 Peter 2:12, 3:16 when the world speaks
against us as evil doers.
Friends, in simple terms, we need to guard what we say!
Our text tells us to NOT speak evil of each other.
In fact, the text notes that to do so is in essence speaking
against the law of God.
Obviously, this is NOT saying we don’t address error (as some would have
you to believe), but rather it is the slandering, criticizing another,
etc. It is speaking in such
a way as to belittle another in your own eyes, or the eyes of others.
It is simply not productive and only destroys!
b.
Grumbling against one another – James 5:9 notes we are not to grumble (complain, groan
against, express discontent with another).
This word is used to describe how we are NOT to cause grief in
obeying those who rule over us (i.e. our elders) – Hebrews 13:17.
c.
Do not lie to one another
- Colossians 3:9 – another sin of the tongue is lying.
As Christians we need to be truthful with each other.
The word for lie here means to lie as we think of it, or to
deceive or mislead.
Ephesians 4:25 tells us rather than lying, let each of us speak truth
with his neighbor.
Truth is what brings us together as brethren.
The CHALLNEGE is to be truthful while maintaining a proper attitude by
avoiding the other sinful behaviors we have addressed.
Be reminded that being truthful is NOT license to be hateful!
a.
Our final thought is to
revisit a passage we addressed last week.
Last week we noted that we are to receive one another (Romans
14:1, 15:7). Here in our
text, Paul is dealing with the matters of liberty (about which God is
indifferent – thus not objective doctrinal matters) and calls for us to
not judge one another anymore (in these matters).
b.
When we genuinely care
about each other as brethren, we are not going to be looking for faults
and things to criticize and attack.
We WANT our brethren to be our loving family.
We will assume the best whenever we can (that is what love does –
1 Corinthians 13:5-7).
c.
As Paul noted in our
text, we resolve not to put a stumbling block or cause to fall in our
brother’s way. That is
really what this family is about.
Image what the church would be like if we all perfected all of these
qualities. Truly the
world would see that we have love for one another.
And as we have noted on several occasions, Jesus tells us that
the world has a right to judge us on that criteria (John 13:34-35).
And
thus we can see how our lives as Christians are not just about us.
Yes, our ultimate goal is to make it to heaven, and we can only
do that for ourselves (Philippians 2:12).
But we CANNOT do that without thinking of others – whether it be
our brethren, or those before whom we are seeking to let our light
shine. We conclude with the
text we began this study with – Philippians 2:3-4, “Let
nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of
mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look
out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of
others.” So, when it
comes to others, how are you doing?
Think about it!