Have you ever felt betrayed-like when you found out your best friend was talking about you behind your back? It's worse-much worse-than finding out your worst enemy is trashing you. We expect that kind of treatment from our enemies but not from our friends. As Christians I believe we're ready to fight spiritual forces that are set against us and even people who don't believe in Christ. But it's a shock to realize you'll often end up fighting other people in your church.
Paul experienced this firsthand. While on his third missionary journey, in Ephesus, Paul wrote to the church in Corinth. After wading through angry mobs of pagans in town after town, Paul found out that the believers in Corinth were fighting amongst themselves. The same thing happens today. Almost all of us know of a church that's split over some trivial matter like the color of the carpet. What's going on? Satan will never fight fair. If he can sabotage churches, then he's more than willing to do so.
This week we'll look at some internal problems that cropped up in the New Testament Church and see how God wants us to deal with them today. Any conflict can be defeated when we allow Christ and his truth-not our prideful opinions-to be our guide.
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