"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." Ephesians 4:30
I've spent most of my life until recently in the church. As someone who has been a part of numerous congregations over the years, I don't think we take the command in Ephesians 4:30 seriously enough. How can we actually grieve the heart of God? I believe it is in the way we treat each other. God's commands to us are firm, love God and love each other.
Typically, it seems most church fights and disagreements don't start over big things. Most churches fight not over whether or not Jesus is God or some point of theology, but rather what color carpet they are going to buy or something that in the long run is not that important after all. We'll go 10 rounds with each other over something trivial because it is an issue of control and power, not something spiritual, but carnal. The world sees that and we end up losing our witness also. Because the world realizes that we aren't any different than them.
In doing so, God sees the fights that go on between believers and takes his hand of blessing off the church. The church loses its power and effectiveness. And you know what? God would allow a church like that to completely die and close its doors rather than continue. That is how serious he takes it when his children fight each other. He would rather have no church at all that a lukewarm, ineffective church. The truth of the matter is, that he doesn't really need us that bad.
Jesus said that if you come to the altar and there realize you have something against your brother to leave your offering at the altar and go and be reconciled with your brother. The thing is, that many churches don't take that to heart. And believer sits in the congregation with believer and they aren't even speaking to each other, yet expect God to still bless the church. Then wonder why he isn't. It's because God has removed his hand of blessing on things until we do things his way and not our own. This is the key I think to revival in the church in this country. We need to realize God isn't going to honor things until it is done his way. The answer isn't to have some new program or youth group or a guest speaker. The key is to honor God and get right with each other.
When I was in Philippi, West Virginia, there was a church outside of town where the church voted out the trustees of the church. As a result, the trustees responded by locking the doors of the church and not letting anyone inside to worship. The church actually met out in the parking lot for several weeks for worship service because they couldn't get inside! Sometimes I think it is at least as difficult for the Holy Spirit to get inside some churches.
I heard about a man who went to a church dressed in jeans and was dressed down for the particular church he was going to. The church members kinda looked at him and made remarks but nobody said anything to him. Nobody greeted him until the pastor came over and spoke to the man and asked him to go home and pray about what God would have him wear to church.
A week goes by and the man comes back to church dressed pretty much the same way. The pastor sees him from the pulpit and to congregation looking back at him and making remarks. Again, nobody bothers to greet him or welcome him. The pastor approaches the man after the service and asks him, "Did you go home and pray about what the Lord would have you wear to church here?" The man replied, "Yes, I did. And God said, that He wouldn't know since he hasn't ever been in that church."
God forgive us for the way we treat each other. Let me finish the chapter I quoted at the beginning, "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:31-32
