Tucked into that list, though, stands a word that often goes unmentioned: "discord." The New King James version uses the term "dissension." I did some digging on these words and found the following definitions and origins (emphasis added):
- tension or strife from lack of agreement
- state of disharmony marked by bickering and antipathy
- disagreement amongst those expected to cooperate
- disagreement leading to quarrel
- Latin origin: "dis" (apart) + "cord" (heart)
This one got to me. How often are there sermons or conversations about this one? When do Christian commentators, when suggesting the degradation of society, use discord as evidence? Why does it seem like we'll talk about sexual sins and idol worship and hatred till we're blue in the face, but exhortations to refrain from dissension (especially with those whom we are expected to cooperate) seem rare?
They're all in the same list. Discord is sandwiched somewhere between cheating on your spouse and murdering your enemy. Paul obviously takes it pretty seriously.
Discord is everywhere. It's almost more common in two places that should be holier than others in society: the home and the church. We'll take great care to pray for our enemies or turn the other cheek; why don't we take the same care in preventing discord with the ones we love? Husbands and wives - what good is proudly avoiding adultery all these years if the marriage is marked by bickering and "heart apart"? Both are "works of the flesh." How many Christian homes and churches live day to day, week to week, in the dense fog of tension caused by a willingness to allow this discord to linger? Would we be this patient, this permissive, with scandalous affairs? With murder? The list is the same.
This is not a call to ignore wrongdoing in others for the sake of keeping the peace. In fact, in the very next chapter, Paul calls it our job to "restore gently" those who have strayed from God. Avoiding confrontation is not the answer. What this calls for instead is to move forward after disagreement; to disagree and then to love anyway; or to passionately seek the truth in theological disagreements without it causing strife.
After reading this passage, I took a look at my "Pray Big" list. So many of the items listed dealt with discord, especially in families. I see the pain in the list, and I understand why the word made Paul's writing in Galatians. This "work of the flesh" is indeed lethal.
Right on.
ReplyDeleteToo many people ignore this warning, as you said. Parents don't even teach their children not to cheat, lie , steal, or even kill anymore. My generation is slowly losing any and all traces of morals they once had. Probably the most common is discord. There is constant bickering and fighting everywhere. This is not allowed in my house so when I go home I can recognize the peace and only wish it for others. As for your comment about marriage partners, it reminded me of a movie, The Notebook. The couple spends years together, and then years apart, and when they get back together, they fight. She tells him, "This isn't going to work. See, we're already fighting." And he replies, "Thats what we do. We fight." This quote has had a major impact on my life because in my last relationship, we fought alot. It was about little things, but it was almost everyday. And I passed it off saying, "This is what we do. We fight." I figured thats how a relationship is supposed to be. But is isn't! And shame on hollywood for making it look that way! Granted, no relationship will be perfect, but constant fighting is not the answer. That's not to say partners, or people in general, can't disagree. Paul wanted to make sure, though, that it didn't lead to contention and bickering. People have strayed away from sitting and calmly discussing issues and varying points of view, and that is the very sin Paul warned us about.
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