Division and Animosity

by Zeke Flores

The devil loves division and animosity among brethren. So, he does his best to keep it stirred up, and, of course, one of his best tools is sin. If he can get a Christian to sin, he can get another Christian to be convinced that that sinning brother can never rise above it.

For the sinner, the key is repentance. For the others, the key is love and acceptance, regardless of how grievous the sin may have been, once repentance has been expressed. There are times when church discipline may not end in reconciliation, but that should never be due to unforgiveness towards the brother who has sinned.

"Sufficient for such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the majority, so that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him, otherwise such a one might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. Wherefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him" (II Corinthians 2:6-8).