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SERIES:
UNDERSTANDING AND HANDLING CONFLICT IN THE
CHURCH
By Lewis C. Lampley
SUBJECT: “Worldly Desires, the Source of Our Strife”
READING: James 4:1-12
INTRODUCTION
James,
with its devotion to direct, pungent statements on
wise living, is reminiscent of the book of Proverbs.
It has a practical emphasis, stressing not theoretical
knowledge, but godly behavior. James wrote with a
passionate desire for his readers and hearers to be
uncompromisingly obedient to the Word of God. He used
at least 30 references to nature. He complements Paul’s
emphasis on justification by faith with his own emphasis
on spiritual fruitfulness demonstrating true faith.
One of the many ways
to understand the practicality of James’ approach
to Christian living is to see the series of tests
in the entire book. The test of trials and perseverance
(1:2-12), the test of temptation and blame (1:13-18),
the test of obedience to the Word (1:19-27), the test
of genuine love and impartiality (2:1-13), the test
of genuine faith and works (2:14-26), the test of
the tongue and boasting (3:1-12), the test of humility
and godly wisdom, and the test of friendship with
the world (4:1-12). There are four more tests, but
for this message, the above eight is sufficient for
the context surrounding our focal passage.
Here in James 4:1-12, we can
deduce a threefold process to assist us in the understanding
and handling conflict in the church. The process includes
assessing the source of conflict, authenticating the
seriousness of conflict, and advocating the solution
for conflict.
I. The Art of Assessing the Source
of Conflict (James 4:1-3)
A.
Two provocative questions (v.1)
B.
Five precise answers (v.2-3)
1.
A
definition of wars. “Wars” speaks of the conflict
in general (v.1a)
2.
A
definition of fights. “Fights” speaks of specific
manifestation of wars (v.1a)
a)
The
fighters defined – illustrated in the parable of the
Wheat and Tares (13:24-30)
b)
The
fighters diagnosed – clearly in James 4:2-3
c)
The fighters’ desires – illustrated in (James
1:14; Eph.2:3; 2 Tim.3:4; Jude 18)
II.
The Act of Authenticating the Seriousness of Conflict
(James 4:4-6)
A.
The
problem of being a friend of the world (v.4a,b)
1.
Spiritual
unfaithfulness illustrated Israel (2 Chron.21:11,13;
Jer.2:20; Ezek.16:26-29)
2.
Spiritual
unfruitfulness because of being outwardly associated
with the church (Matt.7:15-20)
B.
The
price of being a foe of God (v.4c-5)
1.
God’s
attitude toward His enemies in the O.T. (Deut.32:41-43;
Pss.21:8; 68:21; 110:1,2)
2.
God’s
attitude toward His enemies in the N.T. (Luke 19:27;
Rom.5:10; 8:5-7; 1 Cor.15:25).
C.
The
predicament of the proud (v.6)
1.
Sovereign
grace is the only ray of hope for man’s spiritual
darkness (v.6a)
2.
Sinfulness
and pride are preludes for God’s judgment on false
believers (v.6b)
3.
Salvation
is the product of sovereign grace for the humble (v.6c)
III.
The Appropriateness of Advocating the Solution for
Conflict (James 4:7-12)
A.
Ten
imperative commands on how to receive saving grace
(vv.7-10)
B.
The
importance of refraining from defaming and disregarding
God’s Law (vv.11-12)
To understand
and deal effectively with conflict in the church,
one must be convinced that discord in the church is
not by God’s design (John 13:34,35; 17:21; 2 Cor.12:20;
Phil.1:27), but results from the mix of tares (false
believers) and wheat (truly redeemed people) that
make up the local congregation. As James concluded,
so must we, “God, who gave the Law. He alone has the
authority to save those who repent from its penalty,
and destroy those who refuse to repent.
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