Stay on the right side of conflict

Think for a moment of those people who have invested in you. Perhaps your parents sharing their faith; a friend/mentor counselling you to walk with God; your Pastor or small group leader teaching you the truths; the Alpha course leader that introduced you to Jesus; they are still speaking, just as John is to the churches. They say ‘don’t let go now’.

John says, ‘we, including you, have worked hard in establishing the truths of Jesus’ teaching in the churches, we have been building community and we have been sharing the gospel across our world, don’t ruin what has happened by choosing the wrong side of this conflict.’

“Watch out that you do not lose what wehave worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.” (2 John 8-9)

Watch out.

In this conflict, John has called out the powerful and deceptive leaders who have been teaching a view of Jesus Christ which is not in line with the orthodox teaching of Christ.

What’s your conflict? Maybe you are not in one. Or are you?

Watch out.

There is a temptation to run ahead. To get so embroiled that you end up being captured by the conflict so much so that your relationship with the Father and with the Son is not the same neither is your love for God’s people.

The Church in the UK has most definitely found itself in conflict in recent times. Many have lost friends in those conflicts as the division runs deep. Thankfully in many cases the generations who have worked so hard for the church but who have died in the Lord are not seeing their work unravelling.

But Jesus does.

The problem with conflict is that there are losers.

John says to stay on the right side of conflict and do not lose what those who have given you. Don’t drop the baton. Keep to the traditions. Keep to the disciplines. Don’t go off track.