Strife's Impact: Faith's Challenge

does strife hinder faith

Strife is a topic that is prevalent throughout the Bible, from the Old Testament to the New Testament epistles. It is generally portrayed as a destructive force that leads to division, broken relationships, alienation, and suffering. The Bible defines strife as bickering, arguing, a heated disagreement, or an angry undercurrent. It is a strong and ongoing conflict over a fundamental issue, deeper than an argument and broader than a disagreement. The Bible warns against strife and admonishes those who cause it. While avoiding strife is difficult, it is important to recognize its negative impact and strive for peace and harmony with one another, as advised by Paul: Live peaceably with all men as far as lies within you.

Characteristics Values
Definition Conflict, quarrelling, contention, and hostility between individuals or groups
Cause Ungodly traits like pride, hate, and jealousy
Cause Greed and unchecked ambition
Cause Lust for power and control
Cause Stubbornness and foolishness
Cause Circumstances of injustice and oppression
Effect Broken relationships and alienation
Effect Retaliation and violence
Effect Disunity and weakness
Effect Distraction from ultimate purpose of making disciples
Effect Hindrance to prayers

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Strife is caused by ungodly traits like pride, hate, and jealousy

Strife is a strong and ongoing conflict over a fundamental issue, and it is something that the Bible warns against. It is considered a sin, and it is said to be caused by the evil desires within us. According to the Bible, strife is always accompanied by pride and an unteachable spirit. When someone refuses to consider another viewpoint and demands their own way, strife results.

Pride and jealousy are both complex emotions. Pride can be a positive force, reflecting healthy self-esteem and motivating individuals to strive for excellence. However, it can also become negative when it turns into arrogance or excessive self-importance, leading to a disregard for others' perspectives. Jealousy, on the other hand, stems from a fear of loss or a sense of insecurity. It often involves feelings of envy, resentment, or insecurity triggered by the success or advantages of others.

In the context of religion, jealousy is examined through the lens of divine jealousy and human jealousy. Divine jealousy refers to the concept of a monotheistic God responding to humans worshipping multiple gods or idols. This is seen in both Judaism and Christianity, where God is described as a jealous God who does not tolerate the worship of false idols. Human jealousy, on the other hand, is addressed in religious scriptures through stories and commandments that warn against the destructive potential of romantic jealousy and the negative behaviours it can incite.

Both pride and jealousy can lead to strife when they manifest in negative ways. For instance, when pride becomes arrogance, it can foster a competitive spirit and a disregard for others. Similarly, jealousy can lead to feelings of envy, resentment, and insecurity, which can result in destructive behaviours such as competitiveness, resentment, or even sabotage.

In summary, strife is caused by ungodly traits like pride, hate, and jealousy. These emotions can lead to ongoing conflict and division, disrupting unity and love, which are essential in maintaining a strong relationship with God and others. Recognizing and managing these emotions is crucial to navigating interpersonal dynamics effectively and fostering peace and harmony.

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Strife can destroy unity among believers

The Bible warns against strife and admonishes those who cause it: "It is to one's honour to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel" (Proverbs 20:3). Avoiding strife is challenging, and even in New Testament times, it arose in the early church (1 Corinthians 3:3; 1 Timothy 6:4; 2 Corinthians 12:20). The underlying cause of strife is sin: "What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don't they come from your evil desires that are at war within you?" (James 4:1, NLT).

Strife can develop when a difference of opinion becomes more important than the relationship. It is always accompanied by pride and an unwillingness to compromise, negotiate, or be humble. Proverbs 13:10 says, "Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice." When one or both parties refuse to consider another viewpoint and insist on their own way, strife results.

Strife has far-reaching consequences, including:

  • Destroying unity: Unity based on the truth of God is crucial to Jesus, as seen in His prayer for believers to "be one as You and I are one" (John 17:22). Strife shatters this unity and is an enemy of both the church and God.
  • Opposing love: As stated in 1 Corinthians 13:1–3, nothing we do as Christians is as vital as love. Love will not tolerate strife, and where love reigns, strife cannot exist. When believers engage in strife, they turn away from love.
  • Confusing the world: Jesus instructed His disciples to love each other so that the world would recognize them as His followers (John 13:35). When believers display strife, they become hypocrites in the eyes of the world, setting up God's truth as a target of mockery.
  • Alienating new Christians: Strife in the church can drive away those who are just starting their journey with Christ.
  • Signalling worldliness and carnality: Paul told the church in 1 Corinthians 3:3, "For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?" As believers mature in their faith, strife and contention should diminish.
  • Distracting from disciple-making: Jesus commanded His followers to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). Strife caused by petty disagreements, disappointments, and disputes hinders this mission, limiting the impact on the world.

Believers are called to pursue peace and holiness, as stated in Hebrews 12:14: "Pursue peace with all men, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord." By prioritising peace and unity, believers can honour God, maintain strong relationships, and effectively share their faith with the world.

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Strife is the opposite of love

Strife is a strong and ongoing conflict over a fundamental issue. It is deeper than an argument and broader than a disagreement. It is often accompanied by bitterness and sometimes violence. The Bible warns against strife and admonishes those who cause it. Avoiding strife is difficult, and it can arise from differences of opinion, pride, and an unteachable spirit.

Love, on the other hand, is patient, kind, and humble. It does not envy, boast, or seek its own way. Love is not easily angered and keeps no record of wrongs. When we allow ourselves to engage in strife, we say "no" to love.

The Bible teaches that love is the most important thing we can do as Christians. Being "right" or declaring our version of "truth" counts for nothing without love. Love will not tolerate strife, and strife cannot exist where love rules.

To live in peace and harmony with one another, we must actively pursue peace and avoid strife. This does not mean we will never disagree, but we must do so respectfully.

Greed and jealousy are two common causes of strife. When we are greedy and never satisfied, we stir up strife because we are focused on our wants and desires rather than trusting in God's provision.

To keep strife out of our lives, we must guard our hearts and be careful who we spend time with. We are influenced by those around us, so it is important to surround ourselves with people who build us up and do not infect us with negative attitudes.

By pursuing righteousness, wisdom, patience, humility, reconciliation, and forgiveness, we can overcome strife and live in the peace that God desires for us.

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Strife confuses the world about the difference Christ makes

Strife, or conflict, is a strong and ongoing disagreement over fundamental issues. It is deeper than an argument and broader than a disagreement. It is often accompanied by bitterness and can sometimes turn violent.

The Bible warns against strife and admonishes those who cause it. When strife occurs among believers, the church's testimony is tarnished and Christ is dishonoured. The Bible also advises believers to pursue peace and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

Strife distracts believers from their ultimate purpose of making disciples. Jesus left Christians with one clear objective: to make disciples of every nation (Matthew 28:19). Fulfillment of that command is Satan's biggest fear, so he keeps Christians tangled in their own petty disagreements, disappointments, and disputes so that they limit their impact on the lost world.

While the essentials of the gospel cannot be compromised, Christians can become so dogmatic about non-essential doctrines that they forget that obedience and love are the marks of a mature believer. When believers allow strife to dictate their choices, they fall short of the mandate Jesus gave them.

Christians are called to be peacemakers, which is one of Christ's beatitudes: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9).

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Strife can alienate new Christians

The Bible warns that strife is a trap laid by the devil to destroy marriages, businesses, and churches. It is caused by ungodly traits such as pride, hate, and jealousy, which have no place in Christianity. Strife can also be caused by greed and unchecked ambition, as seen in the case of King Ahab coveting Naboth's vineyard, which led to murder and conflict.

To prevent strife from alienating new Christians, it is important to pursue peace and holiness, as instructed in Hebrews 12:14: "Pursue peace with all men, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord." This means being proactive in leadership to prevent divisions, as seen in Acts 6, where the apostles appointed seven men to oversee the distribution of food and quell the conflict between Hellenistic Jews and Hebraic Jews.

Additionally, seeking wisdom from God can help to quell conflicts, as James advised in James 3:17: "the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere." By pursuing peace and wisdom, Christians can create an environment that is welcoming and supportive for new believers, rather than one that drives them away.

Frequently asked questions

Strife is a strong and ongoing conflict over a fundamental issue. It is deeper than an argument and broader than a disagreement. It is often accompanied by bitterness and sometimes violence.

The Bible warns against strife and admonishes those who cause it. It is caused by ungodly traits like pride, hate, and jealousy. It is a trap laid by the devil to destroy marriages, businesses, and churches.

Strife can hinder one's relationship with God. It can also lead to damaged relationships, isolation, and loneliness. It creates an "us versus them" mentality that causes alienation and division.

The Bible mentions jealousy and greed as two common causes of strife. Other causes include unchecked ambition, lust for power and control, stubbornness, and foolishness.

The Bible offers several ways to overcome strife, including pursuing righteousness and wisdom, exercising patience and slowness to anger, practicing humility and considering others, seeking reconciliation and forgiveness, and relying on God's supernatural peace.

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  • Seti
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