Euodia and Syntyche

He claims to be a Christian and says he is a minister of Christ, but the email I received from him was full of threatening language about how he was going to contact this one and pressure that one and get this committee to act to get his way.  Oh, he has Biblical knowledge. He can pull the most obscure passage out of the depths of the Old Testament to justify his position. He can argue theology’s finer points intelligently, too. But, he has not grasped the most basic part of the Christian life – love and unity.  He still lives in the land of Euodia and Syntyche.

Pastor Paul wrote a letter to the Christians at Philippi and took time to directly address these two feuding members.  "I urge Euodia and Syntyche to iron out their differences and make up. God doesn’t want his children holding grudges." (Philippians 4:2, The Message)  They allowed personal issues to hinder the eternal work of God in their city.  I wonder what they were fighting about?  Did Euodia bring the same dish as Syntyche to the potluck dinner?  Did Syntyche take Euodia’s position as lead soprano on the worship team? Did Euodia’s teenage daughter break up with Syntyche’s son?  (Smile, please.) They might have been the first feuding Christians we meet, but they sure were not the last. 

Local churches by the thousands are crippled, often destroyed, by people who want their own way, who want control or vindication, more than the honor and glory of Christ.  Last week I spent some time with a pastor who had been driven from the ministry by two people who took exception to the way he preached. His critics were not offended by bad doctrine. They simply did not like his style! Over six months, these wolves raised the pressure on that pastor to the point that his wife’s emotions collapsed and one of his children ran away from home, just to get away from that church.  Eventually, he gave up and resigned, the 4^th pastor so treated by that little church in the last 6 years.  Listening to his story, I felt for him, but nearly wept for the  honor of Christ. What do the people of that small community think of Christ and His church after seeing such behavior replayed over and over?

Are you a feuding saint? 
Do you air out your every grievance, turn every preference into a principle, and insist only on a ‘win’ as settlement?

Are you quick to fight, ready to threaten, insistent on your own way?

Ponder this plea from the Spirit. What does it say to you? “May I plead with you to put Jesus Christ and His Church first in your life? Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News." (Philippians 1:27, NLT) "Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had." (Philippians 2:1-5, NLT)

A unified church, singularly focused on the love of Jesus, where people serve with no regard for position, recognition, or power is a beautiful thing. Amazingly wonderful results flow from the efforts of those who desire the Spirit’s leadership and who are ready to live humbly with one another.  The paradox is that in forgetting one’s self there is discovery of the greatest personal peace and fulfillment, as well. 

Conflict is not evil, but selfishness is.  Disagreement will come, but where Christ is Lord, the focus will remain on His kingdom. Let’s take this Word to heart for Christ’s sake.

“I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences. You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.” (Ephesians 4:1-6 The Message)