… especially those of the circumcision group.
Summary: The case of the circumcision group offers us an example of disagreements in the early church. Some were resolved by discussion. Others festered and turned into open conflict.
We don’t hear much about the “circumcision group” these days. The only other place I have ever heard them mentioned by name was Paul’s letter to the Galatians (Galatians 2:12). But in Paul’s day, circumstances were different. People of all kinds, both Jew and Gentile, were drawn to faith in Jesus. But what did that mean?
Jesus said he had been sent to the Jews or the “lost sheep of Israel,” as he called them. (Matthew 15:24) If he had only been sent to the Jews, there would be no discussion about circumcision. All male Jews are circumcised at birth and all converts are circumcised when they become Jews. There is no question about being circumcised if you want to be a Jew. But what if are a Gentile and wanted to believe in Jesus?
I wish I could tell you exactly what the problem was with the circumcision group, but I can’t. We don’t know for certain. We only have circumstantial evidence. Paul, to his credit, was trying to circumvent any conflict with them. However, the Jews in this group would not be appeased. They were very cut-up about this topic.
While their exact motives are shrouded in history. It is clear from Paul’s letters that they were hostile to accepting uncircumcised Gentiles as believers. For the sake of our meditation today, that is enough to know.
Where is there room in what Jesus taught for hostility among believers? The answer is, there isn’t. In John’s gospel, Jesus prays for all believers when he says,
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17: 20-23)
Paul understood that the circumcision given to Abraham and his descendants was a symbol of a covenant relationship; the Old Testament covenant. Now, this is where it gets a bit complicated. The covenant relationship given to Abraham was not dependent on the law that was given to Moses. God’s covenant with Abraham, and therefore the covenant of circumcision, was everlasting. (Genesis 17:4, 13) It was not foreshortened like the Mosaic covenant of the law was. When Jesus fulfilled the law through the shedding of his blood, that covenant was complete.
The tragedy here was one of conflict among believers. But there is a more serious tragedy that still unfolds today. Some people hear the words of the Gospel with their ears, but they cannot hear them with their hearts. Jeremiah, speaking for God, said:
Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, circumcise your hearts, you people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, or my wrath will flare up and burn like fire because of the evil you have done— burn with no one to quench it. (Jeremiah 4:4)
Paul, knowing this, explains:
No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God. (Romans 2:29)
And so, as Christians, we find our challenge to be hostile to hostility, cautious around conflict, and open to God’s Word. Not just in our mind, but in our heart.
Application: Don’t focus on the differences between ourselves and other believers, instead focus on what draws us together: Jesus.
Food for Thought: What hope do we have when disagreements erupt into open conflict?
We should focus on what brings us together. Only the essentials of the faith. God is personal. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all God. Jesus is both fully human and fully God. The Bible, is truly God’s divinely inspired Word in the original languages, is trustworthy, true, anfully sufficient for correction, reproof, instruction, an training in righteousness.
Christ’s sacrifice on the cross fully paid the penalty for sin. Individuals need to personally believe, accept, by more than mental assent, with full heart conviction Christ’s finished work on the cross for their individual personal sin an believe that they now have a new restored relationship with God due solely to God’s provision and not from any merit or works which they have done. Salvation is truly by God’s grace through faith in the person and work of His Son.
Saved Individuals have changed their mind about sin, have repented, in some measure and are in the process of growing to be more like Christ. They may stumble, have beseeching sins or habits but there has been a genuine change of mind and heart.
Christians believe Christ is physically coming again to receive and take all true believers home to heaven and a future eternity with God forever.
These are pretty much the essentials of the faith that virtually almost all genuine believers confess, accept, and should hold fast.
If the disagreement regards other more questionable things probably grace, charity, tolerance, and peace should prevail rather than quarreling.
Unity amongst fellow brothers and sisters glorifies the Lord and says to the world we are truly God’s children. (John 13:34-35).
It is an absolute very important and essential command that we love God, obey Him, and love one another.
Jesus repeats this in John 14:21,23-24, 15:16-17, 17: 20-24, 1 John 3: 11-15, 4: 7-16, especially 4:19-21. Also 1 John 5: 9- 13.
In essentials Unity and faithfulness, in questionable matters grace, understanding, deferment, liberty; and in all things Charity and Love for one another.
This in no way promotes evil, or acceptance of less than God’s best.
Is this something believers should practice?
Jeff,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. In principle I agree entirely. In practice, I find myself pointing to Scripture as much as possible.
My son gave me a game for Christmas called “Blank Slate.” The idea is that each person gets a mini-white board (the “slate”) and an erasable marker. Then a card is drawn with a common word and a blank, such as “White _______.” Everyone writes down their choice for the word in the blank and reveals them one at a time. What makes the game fun is how surprising what people come up with is. Points are awarded only when words match, and that is not as often as you might think. For example, in the sample above, you might be thinking “White board” is the “right” answer. But you might also see, white paint, white dress, white out, white wash, etc.
The Scriptures you have cited are excellent. I have linked them HERE.
Corrections : and fully sufficient
: be-setting not beseeching
An active correcting keyboard can be both a blessing and a challenge. Just an observation.
Thanks for your grace.
I think one hope is found in applying the basics of the Bible. Forgiveness is such a basic principle that is very hard to apply. There is nothing unusual or necessarily wrong with conflict. It is how we respond during conflict that creates the problem. If we choose to love each other, as we have been taught, forgive each other, bear with one another, etc., then there is hope. Ephesians 4: 31 – 5: 2.
Rich,
I deeply appreciate you pointing out that there is nothing wrong with conflict itself. That is profound!
The problem I most often associate with conflict is people closing their mind to communication and resorting to blunt force of some kind. (Not necessarily physical, but it can include that.)
If we can stay open to communication, and listen as well as talk, reconciliation is more than just an option, it is very likely to happen.
What hope do we have when disagreements erupt into open conflict?
SEEK BIBLICAL RESOLUTION MINOR ISSUE:
When conflict does arise it must be effectively dealt with quickly so Gods work can continue within the hearts of all those in conflict. It could be a minor issue with a brother or sister where we simply forgive the other person and move on, we may need to speak with them privately to ask their forgiveness for something we have done or resolve biblically an issue where we disagree. Remember we are each unique, are different parts of one body, different levels of maturity, have at times received a revelation not yet revealed to someone else, and must seek unity in obedience to God.
Romans 15:5; Hebrews 12:14; Luke 17:3-4
SEEK BIBLICAL RESOLUTION MAJOR ISSUE:
It could be a crucial biblical truth or transgression where we have opposing camps within a local church and will involve the pastor as well as the elders.
Begin by seeking peace and unity in Christ as we seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit to resolve the division caused by forces of satan. Stand firm in our common bond, in Jesus Christ and the Word of God. Present the issue and open the floor to biblical discussion.
Matthew 5:25-26, Matthew 18:15-17, Romans 3:23, Matthew 7:3-5
Galatians 6:1, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you to be tempted.”
If we seek truth over personal victory, our hope will be in Gods word which will always reveal the truth and the Holy Spirit who will “convict all”, and “be the power to stand for truth in all those who believe in Jesus Christ.”
If we stand in God, those opposed may walk away from the truth and we will witness Christ cutting the non producing branches from the vine. John 15:5-8
Ron,
Thank you! I love the phrase, “seek truth over victory.” Wow. Well said!