Thursday, January 23, 2014

THE SHEPHERD’S STANDARD: The Rejection of Contentiousness

“A bishop then must be…gentle, not quarrelsome…” (1 Timothy 3:2,3 NKJV)

These two words taken together mean that a pastor rejects a contentious attitude and refuses contentious acts.  Gentleness is the attitude we embrace and saying kind words is the activity we evidence rather than being quarrelsome with our talk.  It is first an attitude before it is an action.

Mark it down—find someone who is always trying to start a conflict with someone, they are experiencing conflict in their soul.  The tension between the flesh and the Spirit, doubt and faith, obedience or disobedience—too often yielding to sin rather than surrendering to God in this war within, with accompanying guilt and shame—is the source of strife with others.  We must be at peace in our souls, submitted to the sovereignty of God, if we would exhibit peace with those made in His image.  Bitterness toward God and His dealings with us—our disappointment with Him—leads to belligerence toward others in our dealings with them.

But do we reject all contentiousness?  Is there not a time, “to contend earnestly for the faith” (Jude 3)?  Absolutely!  There will be need to stand for truth, yet we can do it compassionately as well as clearly.  Our message may be confrontational, but our motive and manner can be caring.  The preacher who has a disposition marked by ill-will is what is forbidden.  Such a man is always spoiling for a fight—eager to cast down the gauntlet over trivial matters.  We must contend for things that are essential to the Gospel, and stand for principle, while not being contentious about preferences in extraneous and peripheral issues.  The pastor dare not be a “Bible bully!”

The ISV renders this, “He must not be argumentative,” and The Message paraphrases it, “not thin-skinned.”  Beware having an ego that is easily bruised with its accompanying reactions.  Greek scholar, Kenneth Wuest commented that a pastor, “does not go about with a chip on his shoulder.”  If you do, someone will knock that chip off and then there is a brawl.  How this undermines the credibility of our message of love—such a contradiction!

A PRAYER

Tender and Long-suffering Lord,
How much You put up with concerning us!  We are so grateful that You are not thin-skinned!  If you were, there would be no hope for us.  Help us be patient in our dealings with others.  Remind us that to skin the hide of the sheep is to slaughter them!  Rather, let us lead them with kindness instead of driving them with contentiousness.  May our souls be calm in submission to Your will, whatever our circumstances may be.  Help us be led of the Spirit and not reacting out of fleshly impulse.  Remind us to take a deep breath, and think before we speak.  Cause our faces to be warm and inviting, instead of wrathful and rejecting.
In Christ’s Name and for His Sake,
Amen.

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