Witness

Introduction

We spend more time looking for what divides us rather than what unifies us.

A lot of people spend hours every week having that division reinforced by social media and news outlets.

“In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, and in all things charity.”

The message of Scripture is:

Division should be avoided if at all possible. Unity should be guarded until impossible.

Unity in Purpose - 7 weeks

In a world that desperately needs to be reminded what unity is, the church should be a beacon of hope, an example, with our unity based on the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.

What our approach to division and unity should be.

As soon as the land is settled (vv. 1-4), the Israelites are confronted with the issue of division:

We have much in common.

What we find in v. 5.

Their calling is the same!

Just as we as believers today! We have trusted in Christ alone for the forgiveness of our sins. We have the indwelling Holy Spirit. We have the guidance of Scripture. We have a common calling in the Great Commission! We have so many foundational beliefs and experiences which unite us.

Across our church, across other Baptist churches, across other denominations, we find a unity across Christianity.

In spite of separation, work towards unity.

There was a division among the tribes: the Jordan River. 2 1/2 tribes were across the Jordan, on the east side. The remaining tribes were on the west side of the Jordan. This was decided prior to the conquest and it was accepted by Moses.

v. 9.

Not only was it accepted by Moses, but also by God!

There are going to be some people who hold different views on certain issues than you. And that’s okay. They are interesting to discuss, but if we begin building our identity by what translation we carry or our views of Revelation or what kind of worship music we prefer, then we cannot be building our identity in the person of Jesus Christ.

This is why unity requires work! Seek to understand why others hold these views. View those things as complimentary rather than competition. Part of the work is the work of humility. Enter into these conversations with the mindset that I may very well be wrong! Can someone make the biblical case otherwise? Is it just a personal preference? Just a familiar tradition? I’d rather celebrate that someone loves their Bible than waste energy trying to convince them that my translation is the only acceptable one. Or I’d rather celebrate the fact that someone loves worship God with their preferred style than waste time tearing down their preferred style of worshipping and honoring God!

Don’t be quick to judge.

The trans-Jordan tribes, on the east side of the Jordan, in order to maintain their unity with the remainder of the tribes, built “an altar of imposing size.” The immediate response to it by the other tribes? “The people of Israel gathered at Shiloh to make war against them” (v. 12).

That escalated quickly.

Their immediate assumption was that they had abandoned the faith! And their only response to that assumption was that they needed to go kill them!

How quick are we to see something and make an assumption about it? A thoughtless judgment is usually wrong.

The story of a jealous girlfriend texting another girl who had been texting her boyfriend, saying things like “I love you.” In reality, the girlfriend was texting the boyfriend’s sister!

Instead of being quick to judge...

Have a conversation.

Thankfully, before they marched to war, they sent a delegation to ask some questions. v. 16.

Now, the tone of their questions included their questions. So, they aren’t a perfect example!

This is sometimes what we do, though! We word questions where the answer is assumed! “Why are you rebelling against God? Don’t you know the destruction this will bring to us all?”

It would be more helpful to begin by asking for clarification: “I noticed that you said this. That is interesting and something I have never heard in that way. Can you help me understand why you believe that?”

People love to talk about what they think! And we should be just as excited to hear different perspectives! And truly listen.

What usually happens is that we drop into argue mode. We don’t listen to what they are saying, but as they are talking we are forming bullet points and as soon as they take a breath we are going to unleash upon them all that we can until we take a breath and they take over the conversation!

Stop! Listen to comprehend.

Respond in humility and faith.

Notice the accused begins with a call to God. And then they continue saying that if they are wrong, they would admit it and accept their punishment.

Then they describe exactly what they had done.

v. 24-27

Rather than name calling or just bowing up and offering to meet them on the battlefield (they had been the vanguard of the military), they humbled themselves before God. They laid it out that if they are in the wrong, they would take the blame. They then laid out their case to the other tribes.

How often do we respond to accusations with such humility? Again, unity takes work. It is so much easier to just respond with, “if you’re feeling froggy then leap!”

This response does not honor God. It does not bring about peace. It is not fruit of the Spirit.

Learn new information and then change.

They listened and then their response - v. 30.

In this, Phinehas and the others admitted that they were wrong and then they changed!

For some reason, people think it is a bad thing to change when you encounter new information. People are more prone to dig in and be wrong than have to change their thoughts or actions because of new information. There is nothing admirable about being wrong or acting on wrong information.

Can you imagine if after they’d heard this reason they decided to still go to war?

When you come to a judgement about someone, have a conversation with them. Then, when greater clarity is reached, change your views! Grow in the light of new information.

Remember your witness.

The name of the altar (that was not really an altar) is “witness.” It was a very real representation of their faith in the covenant keeping God of Israel.

We need to remember that how we treat others, how we talk about people, serves as a witness. That witness will either draw people closer to Jesus or push them away.

If you walk around always mad, always judging, always talking about people behind their backs, then it will push people away from Jesus.

If you are seeking the truth, working towards unity, learning new things and then growing in response to them, this honors Jesus. And most people are tired of drama. Some just love it, but most people want peace.

Be a peacemaker.

Conclusion

Jesus was very clear on what He expected of His followers:

Matthew 5:9 ESV

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Notice that He didn’t say “peace-maintainers” or “peace-admirers.”

We have to be actively involved in the peacemaking process. Peace does not happen by accident. It must be worked towards.

Relationships drift.

As a Christian, you are called to be actively making peace.

To do otherwise is to deny your own salvation.

Maybe you do not feel a calling to make peace because of a void in your own life. This void is a lack of forgiveness from God.

Today, you need to recognize the separation that exists between you and God and to then trust in God, repenting of sin and committing your life to follow the One who died for you, Jesus Christ.