LifeWay Family Bible Series for May 30: Contentious spirits can hurt the cause of Christ_51704

Posted: 5/14/04

LifeWay Family Bible Series for May 30

Contentious spirits can hurt the cause of Christ

Proverbs 17:17; 18:24; 27:5-6, 9-10, 17; Philippians 4:1-3, 10, 14-16

By Rodney McGlothlin

First Baptist Church, College Station

Someone has remarked that where two Baptists are gathered at least three opinions will be shared. We have been, and we remain, a contentious people. It may be our heritage, but it is not a birthmark of which we should be proud.

Euodia and Syntyche were not Baptists by name, but they met the prerequisites. They got their names recorded in the Bible because of a disagreement.

These two women were prominent laborers with Paul at one point. Somehow, they got out of sorts with one another. We do not know why. Does it really matter? Paul saw no reason to belabor the causes of their little tiff. He seems to be more concerned about the effects of their dispute and the damage it eventually would bring to the cause of Christ if not corrected.

“I plead with Euodia, and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life” (Philippians 4:2-3).

This is the closest thing in the Philippian letter to a rebuke. Of all the churches where Paul labored, this congregation seems to be the least impacted with moral, doctrinal or racial controversy. It was important to Paul to resolve the issue because the growth of the church and its continual involvement in the mission of the church were at stake.

How do we improve relationships between church members?

The place to begin is to celebrate our common experience of grace. Paul referred to numerous people in this text as those “whose names are in the book of life.” How did they get there? It was only God's grace. Neither Euodia nor Syntyche had reason for personal pride or spiritual arrogance. They each were saved in the same way.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). We are all faulty folks. Faulty people who have experienced God's forgiving grace should be able to exhibit the same grace to one another.

Relationships also may be improved by shared involvement in the mission of the church. Paul said these two women had “contended at my side in the cause of the gospel.” There was a time when they worked together in harmony with Paul. In the context of the Philippian letter, our assumption would be that they did this from the beginning of their journey of faith.

Paul commends the Philippians for their participation in the gospel “from the first day until now” (Philippians 1:5). There was a time when personal differences did not take precedence over the work of the gospel. Oh that modern Baptists would put aside personal differences for the sake of a unified witness to the gospel.

The words “agree with” are the same words Paul used in Philippians 2:2 when he said, “make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.” His illustration of this single-mindedness is our Lord Jesus himself. Read Philippians 2:1-11, and you will see Paul's solution to improved relationships in the church. It is to be more Christ-like and less selfish.

Finally, we may need some help from others to improve our personal relationships. We need some accountability. Paul called upon a particular “loyal yokefellow” to intercede in the situation between Euodia and Syntyche.

We do not know for certain the name of this person. What do we know about him or her? We know Paul called them a “yokefellow.” He uses this word to describe his relationship with others in gospel witness in Romans 16:3, 9, 21; Philippians 2:25; and in Philemon 1 and 24. The interesting thing is that this individual seems to be what the feuding females once were; faithful co-laborers with Paul in the work of the gospel.

How will we communicate to the world the love of Jesus Christ? It will not be by the logical purity of our doctrines or the showiness of our worship services. Paul said: “Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:22-24).

It will be by something Euodia and Syntyche forgot. It will be by our love for one another. Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).

Improve your relationships with one another. Our witness is at stake.

Questions for discussion

Why was a disagreement between two women worth Paul addressing?

What attributes do you think the “yokefellow” possessed that made Paul think of him to help make peace between the women?