God "hates" division

[Ken Rank]

Proverbs 6:16 These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: (17) A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, (18) A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, (19) A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows strife/division among brethren.

There are times in certain forums when there are folks who are so convinced they are correct and so intent on getting others to look, think, and act like they do... that they don't realize that in the process of correcting everyone else, they are actually causing strife and division. It goes beyond this forum... but even here we just click "ignore" when we no longer want to hear from a BROTHER. In the real world, 10's thousands of denominations and sects of the one body of messiah? How do we not see how wrong this is? How can we not see how clearly God HATES this? We need to grow up... all of us including myself. We need to reflect the character attributes of the one we serve or we need to move on. But we can't seemingly continue to LOOK for reasons to divide. If we are going to look for anything, it should be how to find common ground and to walk in mutual respect and understanding. Otherwise, we are sowing seeds of strife and that is something God said He hates!

 

[singpraise]

Yes! I agree. Personally, I have to continually remind myself to remain kind, patient and keep a humble spirit. I try to keep an open mind so I can learn; even when I sometimes feel like I already know the answer, there is still much to learn about God and growing in faith.

 

[Lulav]

I agree with what you are saying.

I have read that passage many times but rereading it now I see that it actually involves human parts and actions.

A proud look
A lying tongue
Hands that shed innocent blood
A heart that devises wicked plans
Feet that are swift in running to evil
A false witness who speaks lies
And one who sows strife/division among brethren.

I think if you add them all up you get

A proud look, lying tongue, murdering hands, wicked heart, feet pursuing evil is one who is a false witness (to Christ) and who sows strife among the brethren.

 

[smithed64]

Your right, there are thousands of denominations. The division isn't just because we discuss the differences of those denominations. Your forgetting the first part of that sentence...false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows strife.
There are right and wrong answers. There is one way to serve Christ. His way. Not our way.
His Word is what we should go by. But out of the thousands. How many of them don't even believe in the Bible, the very book they are to glean information from God, about God and how to have that relationship with God, they don't even believe it. Is that part of the body of Christ? No, it isn't.
There are some who have completely changed parts of the bible and created their own, to suit their needs. As one with itching ears, wanting to hear what they want to hear, instead of what God wants them to hear. Is this the body of Christ? No.
There are those who take the scripture and twist it to fit their agenda, or to ignore the certain truths that God has laid out before us in His Word. This also is not of the Body of Christ.
The Bible tells us to defend our faith, but to do it with love, patience, longsuffering and gentleness.
There is no "lets agree to disagree" when it comes to God and His Word. He said it, that's it. There is right and wrong.
There are those absolute truths that God shows us in His Word, because He is absolute truth. And those who try to deny Christ His divinity, or say that God can't or didn't do what He said He did. Are not part of the body of Christ.
It's the Born Again Child of God, who place their trust in Christ and His word, that is to defend the Faith. Denominations are made up by man, supposedly guided by His Word. So I don't speak for just one denomination. Yet, I belong to one. I just don't list it, because I believe the Bible is the only way, to learn about God and our salvation. Denominations could be wrong. But the Word of God isn't.

 

[Winken]

I've just been swept into or by moments of silent mediation. Moments of peace. Posts 1 & 2 spoke to me. I'm still engulfed in His Presence. "Take Thou my heart, cleanse every part, Holy Spirit, breathe on me."

 

[Anguspure]

Your right, there are thousands of denominations. The division isn't just because we discuss the differences of those denominations. Your forgetting the first part of that sentence...false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows strife.
There are right and wrong answers. There is one way to serve Christ. His way. Not our way.
His Word is what we should go by. But out of the thousands. How many of them don't even believe in the Bible, the very book they are to glean information from God, about God and how to have that relationship with God, they don't even believe it. Is that part of the body of Christ? No, it isn't.
There are some who have completely changed parts of the bible and created their own, to suit their needs. As one with itching ears, wanting to hear what they want to hear, instead of what God wants them to hear. Is this the body of Christ? No.
There are those who take the scripture and twist it to fit their agenda, or to ignore the certain truths that God has laid out before us in His Word. This also is not of the Body of Christ.
The Bible tells us to defend our faith, but to do it with love, patience, longsuffering and gentleness.
There is no "lets agree to disagree" when it comes to God and His Word. He said it, that's it. There is right and wrong.
There are those absolute truths that God shows us in His Word, because He is absolute truth. And those who try to deny Christ His divinity, or say that God can't or didn't do what He said He did. Are not part of the body of Christ.
It's the Born Again Child of God, who place their trust in Christ and His word, that is to defend the Faith. Denominations are made up by man, supposedly guided by His Word. So I don't speak for just one denomination. Yet, I belong to one. I just don't list it, because I believe the Bible is the only way, to learn about God and our salvation. Denominations could be wrong. But the Word of God isn't.

Certainly Christ cannot be wrong, and He should be our point of unity.
It is interesting that Paul, in his letters draws attention to the person of Christ and who he is, and what he did and does, before he addresses the issues of the church in question.
Anybody who follows in the footsteps of our leader is moving towards all life and truth irrespective of the direction from which they approach Him.

 

[singpraise]

I've just been swept into or by moments of silent mediation. Moments of peace. Posts 1 & 2 spoke to me. I'm still engulfed in His Presence. "Take Thou my heart, cleanse every part, Holy Spirit, breathe on me."

Thank you, that's a nice thing to say!

 

[Heber Book List]

1 Corinthians 11:17-19? Especially vs 19

 

[Tull]

Truth will always divide,Jesus said he came not to bring peace but a sword to divide light from darkness and truth from a lie,there are things to divide over and things that don't matter enough to divide over.

 

[John Hyperspace]

Proverbs 6:16 These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: (17) A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, (18) A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, (19) A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows strife/division among brethren.

There are times in certain forums when there are folks who are so convinced they are correct and so intent on getting others to look, think, and act like they do... that they don't realize that in the process of correcting everyone else, they are actually causing strife and division. It goes beyond this forum... but even here we just click "ignore" when we no longer want to hear from a BROTHER. In the real world, 10's thousands of denominations and sects of the one body of messiah? How do we not see how wrong this is? How can we not see how clearly God HATES this? We need to grow up... all of us including myself. We need to reflect the character attributes of the one we serve or we need to move on. But we can't seemingly continue to LOOK for reasons to divide. If we are going to look for anything, it should be how to find common ground and to walk in mutual respect and understanding. Otherwise, we are sowing seeds of strife and that is something God said He hates!

Indeed. Yet, it's still in our nature to do so. We are all in different stages of coming into the perfection God intends us, and we are all wrestling even to this day. I see it much like chemistry: we little atoms and molecules are being brought out of the unharmonized state and into the harmonized state by the process of harmonization: but for now we are still experiencing us all bumping into one another, repulsing and attracting, whirling and dancing about in incohesive division yet now, placed into that life-giving ether, we are slowly moving into that ordered perfection which is the inevitable outcome. In the meanwhile, being aware, we can perceive around us that thing which God hates, and we can understand His hatred of it; and we will imprint that onto ourselves that, when our perfection and unity is attained, we will know what it is we hate: and in unity we will remain for all of time; knowing the disdain of division through our time in the process bringing harmony from disharmony. Here a little, there a little: Ephesians 4:13

 

[Ken Rank]

Truth will always divide,Jesus said he came not to bring peace but a sword to divide light from darkness and truth from a lie,there are things to divide over and things that don't matter enough to divide over.

Truth does not divide light from light... it will divide light from darkness. Two brothers in Christ who have a different understanding in some areas but who agree on the core issues (sinless life, death, 3 days to resurrection, etc.) should not be dividing. That is what the Proverb is saying... when a "brother sows discord (strife) with another brother."

 

[Ken Rank]

Indeed. Yet, it's still in our nature to do so. We are all in different stages of coming into the perfection God intends us, and we are all wrestling even to this day. I see it much like chemistry: we little atoms and molecules are being brought out of the unharmonized state and into the harmonized state by the process of harmonization: but for now we are still experiencing us all bumping into one another, repulsing and attracting, whirling and dancing about in incohesive division yet now, placed into that life-giving ether, we are slowly moving into that ordered perfection which is the inevitable outcome. In the meanwhile, being aware, we can perceive around us that thing which God hates, and we can understand His hatred of it; and we will imprint that onto ourselves that, when our perfection and unity is attained, we will know what it is we hate: and in unity we will remain for all of time; knowing the disdain of division through our time in the process bringing harmony from disharmony. Here a little, there a little: Ephesians 4:13

A lot of it has to do with our discipleship, John. In the days of the Apostles, a student (disciple) would all but live with their rabbi (teacher). They would walk with him, mirror him... for hours a day and then for YEARS before going out on his own. We see this with the initial 12 who walked daily with Yeshua for 3 years before they were let loose. Paul with all his scholarship, still disappeared for 3 years and went to Arabia (where we now know the real Mt. Sinai is?) before coming back and walking in his calling. In American Christianity today, we have 80% of the population claim to be Christian but only 40% going to church once a month. And that once is a Sunday morning which is always geared someplace close to the cross because the "lost" might be present and the message has to be cross centered for them. So MOST Christians never pick up the cross and journey on... they pitch a tent at it and remain there, sometimes, for their entire lives.

For those who do more... the 10-20% who go to church weekly and take an additional class... they are not learning any methodology. They are learning how to repeat the facts as the denomination they are part of understands them. In other words, most discipleship programs only breeds parrots that maintains the denomination. Anyone outside of it is often held at a distance and sometimes not even considered a Christian.

How can we not have division with this kind of reality?

 

[John Hyperspace]

A lot of it has to do with our discipleship, John. In the days of the Apostles, a student (disciple) would all but live with their rabbi (teacher). They would walk with him, mirror him... for hours a day and then for YEARS before going out on his own. We see this with the initial 12 who walked daily with Yeshua for 3 years before they were let loose. Paul with all his scholarship, still disappeared for 3 years and went to Arabia (where we now know the real Mt. Sinai is?) before coming back and walking in his calling. In American Christianity today, we have 80% of the population claim to be Christian but only 40% going to church once a month. And that once is a Sunday morning which is always geared someplace close to the cross because the "lost" might be present and the message has to be cross centered for them. So MOST Christians never pick up the cross and journey on... they pitch a tent at it and remain there, sometimes, for their entire lives.

For those who do more... the 10-20% who go to church weekly and take an additional class... they are not learning any methodology. They are learning how to repeat the facts as the denomination they are part of understands them. In other words, most discipleship programs only breeds parrots that maintains the denomination. Anyone outside of it is often held at a distance and sometime not even considered a Christian.

How can we not have division with this kind of reality?

I don't disagree with the "reality" of your words. The sanctuary and the dominion of Judah and Israel are likened to shepherds and sheep. If the sheep are scattered and come to the shepherds rarely, it is because the shepherds are not feeding them with nourishing food. If the shepherds fed with good food, the sheep would come running and remain near. But that which was done is that which is done again: Jeremiah 10:21, Jeremiah 23:1-2, Jeremiah 50:6, Ezekiel 34:2, Ezekiel 34:9-10, Isaiah 56:11 which is what James warned of, there being "too many tachers": James 3:1: because the result is this: Jeremiah 12:10: which is the cause of division: but this is what is said: Amos 8:11-13: and so we wait for that promise: Jeremiah 3:15, Jeremiah 23:4 of which is fulfilled in this: Romans 8:19-20 and in these: Obadiah 1:21 and are these: Revelation 14:1: so bringing to pass that which is said: Micah 5:3-5 because it is also written, the patience of the saints; which patience is exercised in this: Psalms 123:2, Psalms 145:15, Isaiah 8:17, Isaiah 40:31, Jeremiah 14:22

In other words, we are all in the hands of God, and He does according to His will, and this is His will, that we are made to know those things which He hates. All things are working together, even division: Romans 8:28, 1 Corinthians 11:19: so we hate what God hates, as you hate which God hates; but it is God that gives the increase: 1 Corinthians 3:7, Ephesians 4:16 and so we must wait on Him, to bring the latter rains: James 5:7 which He will do in His own appointed time: Ecclesiastes 3:1

 

[Ken Rank]

I don't disagree with the "reality" of your words. The sanctuary and the dominion of Judah and Israel are likened to shepherds and sheep. If the sheep are scattered and come to the shepherds rarely, it is because the shepherds are not feeding them with nourishing food. If the shepherds fed with good food, the sheep would come running and remain near. But that which was done is that which is done again: Jeremiah 10:21, Jeremiah 23:1-2, Jeremiah 50:6, Ezekiel 34:2, Ezekiel 34:9-10, Isaiah 56:11 which is what James warned of, there being "too many tachers": James 3:1: because the result is this: Jeremiah 12:10: which is the cause of division: but this is what is said: Amos 8:11-13: and so we wait for that promise: Jeremiah 3:15, Jeremiah 23:4 of which is fulfilled in this: Romans 8:19-20 and in these: Obadiah 1:21 and are these: Revelation 14:1: so bringing to pass that which is said: Micah 5:3-5 because it is also written, the patience of the saints; which patience is exercised in this: Psalms 123:2, Psalms 145:15, Isaiah 8:17, Isaiah 40:31, Jeremiah 14:22

In other words, we are all in the hands of God, and He does according to His will, and this is His will, that we are made to know those things which He hates. All things are working together, even division: Romans 8:28, 1 Corinthians 11:19: so we hate what God hates, as you hate which God hates; but it is God that gives the increase: 1 Corinthians 3:7, Ephesians 4:16 and so we must wait on Him, to bring the latter rains: James 5:7 which He will do in His own appointed time: Ecclesiastes 3:1

I meant to come back to this... I agree... we are in the hands of a loving God and we can trust that all He has promised will come to pass. Blessings.