Expensive Stubbornness

by Perry D. Hall
via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 21 No. 4, December 1995

Between two farms near Valleyview, Alberta, you can find two parallel fences, only two feet apart, running for a half mile.

Why are there two fences when one would do?

Two farmers, Paul and Oscar, had a disagreement that erupted into a feud. Paul wanted to build a fence between their land and split the cost, but Oscar was unwilling to contribute. Since he wanted to keep cattle on his land, Paul went ahead and built the fence anyway.
After the fence was completed, Oscar said to Paul, "I see we have a fence."

"What do you mean ’we’?" Paul replied. "I got the property line surveyed and built the fence two feet into my land. That means some of my land is outside the fence. And if any of your cows set foot on my land, I’ll shoot it."

Oscar knew Paul wasn’t joking, so when he eventually decided to use the land adjoining Paul’s for pasture, he was forced to build another fence, two feet away.

Oscar and Paul are both gone now, but their double fence stands as a monument to the high price we pay for stubbornness. Aren’t you glad such silliness does not pervade the church?

Do you know any cities like this? Two, or more, churches, no elders, struggling with building payments, upkeep, and utilities. If either has a preacher working with them, each receives outside support. Neither church can afford anything other than "keeping house." And their "houses" aren’t even half full.

Neither church is willing to "close their doors" so that together they might have doors of opportunity opened to them by the Lord (Acts 14:27; Revelation 3:8). They possibly could have elders if they united, more to choose from. They could fully fellowship (Philippians 4:15), have one preacher, and have money left over for supporting others. Do they treasure more being married to brick and mortar than being married to Christ? Do they love their buildings more than their brothers?

Borrowing from the beginning story, in some city, in some state, you can find two churches, only a few miles apart. Why are there two churches when one would do? Two Christians, Paul and Oscar, had a disagreement that erupted into a feud. Oscar and Paul are both gone now, but their two churches stand as a monument to the high price we pay for stubbornness.

Oh, I forgot, such silliness does not pervade the church.