Things the Lord Hates: Sowing Discord Among the Brethren
by Terry Wane Benton
Text: Proverbs 6:19
Sowing discord is not making an effort to get brethren to unite in doing the truth. Ahab called Elijah a “troubler in Israel.” Elijah was not sowing discord; he was trying to correct the discord that idolatry had already caused.
Along that line, I remember years ago trying to get brethren to deal correctly with a brother dating another woman when his only right was to work things out with his wife. He had no right to be with another woman. He only had the right to work on reconciliation with his lawful wife. Some wanted to ignore that sin and charge that I was “sowing discord” among the brethren. No! Discord was already being sown by those who were encouraging the unlawful relationship.
Sowing discord is getting things out of tune with God’s word. The church at Corinth was out of tune with God’s word (I Corinthians 5). A man had his father’s wife. Paul tried to get these brethren to correct it. Was Paul the troubler? Was Paul “sowing discord among brethren?” No! He was trying to get the group back in tune, in one accord, with the word of God.
The man who dared to commit sexual immorality and those who supported and ignored it were “sowing discord among brethren.” Discord gets people out of harmony with God and His word. Those working to bring the harmony back by calling attention to the truth are not the “troublers in Israel.”
There are other subtle ways that “discord” is sown among brethren. Murmuring and complaining as the children of Israel did in the wilderness (I Corinthians 10:1-13) was “sowing discord” among brethren. One or more complainers can ruin a church by spreading their murmurings and complaints to others.
Backstabbing is another way to sow discord among brethren. The discord moves brethren out of harmony and unity with God and each other. Therefore, the Lord hates it! All will give an account of this!
The Lord prayed for unity, oneness, harmony (John 17:21f). There is “unity of the Spirit” (Ephesians 4:1-6), and there are carnal sour notes injected into “God’s orchestra”, the church. All must be careful if we are to be in tune and stay in tune with God. God hates those who work to sow discord among those in His church!
