1.2 – Modern Conflicts

[Dolores]

Most of the conflicts I currently see in the church today is the split between political views. There are those that feel the government mandates have overreached into our churches. This has caused great resentment towards the government and even towards churches for following the mandates. I know of people who have stopped going to church or leaving their church to attend churches that refuse to comply with provincial mandates.

I don’t know if prosperity preaching is a false teaching, but I do feel that it definitely needs to be addressed in churches that do not preach on salvation and preach the standards by which the Lord instructs us to live. I think many churches that preach prosperity and only that are afraid of losing people. I personally fell that now more than ever in history is it critical to preach the full gospel.

[Nikolas]

Hi Dolores, I think you’re right that one of the biggest areas of controversy in our day has been the response to the pandemic and navigating government mandates as church communities. Because it is such an emotionally charged issue (and, as you mentioned, very politicized), it can be difficult for people even in the same church (or the same family!) to have civil conversations without things becoming heated. Thankfully, the biblical call to extend love and compassion to one another, even if we don’t always share the same views remains paramount for maintaining Christian unity.

[Ian]

One conflict that’s driving the church community today is theology. Now, do not get me wrong. I love theology, and I believe it is good to study theology. However, from my observation, I often see Christians, especially in social media, use their theology to bring people down instead of using their theology as a motivation to love and share the gospel. Theologizing without humility is a dangerous thing. If your theology that does not move you to love others, then something is wrong with your theology. Though this may not be a false teaching per se, it is good reminder for all of us to keep in mind.

[ECO]

@ianabad this is an interesting observation. Sometimes when we grow in theology we think that we have the ability to judge and correct others, but our tone can be all wrong. A theology that isn’t loving is not really a theology at all. We need to imitate Jesus who was full of GRACE and TRUTH.

[Melanie]

One of the conflicts in the church, that I see, is the message that is given verses the realty of what is. When there is a difference between what is said either during a sermon, in the values/beliefs of the church or another form of communication to what actually takes places, we loss all credibility of being a people trying to do better. Christianity doesn’t mean we are perfect, but it does mean that we continually look to do better.

[ECO]

Very true Melanie. We need to remember what is written in this book of James and be doers of the word not just hearers. Sermons are meant to draw us into action and the church is meant to be the hands and feet, which speaks of action.

[Ruth]

I feel like the church has incorporated a lot of humanism into it’s teaching making the “gospel” more about how “I am to fulfill my destiny” , how “God wants me to know who I am” , how important I am in God’s kingdom…It’s a very small part of the truth blown out of proportion. When in reality it’s all about Him. This is probably partially why, as someone else mentioned, the prosperity gospel is still flourishing only under different names. “God wants me to be happy , healthy and wealthy because I’m His child”… I see a focus on finding ourselves and knowing who we are “in Him” instead of on loosing ourselves and taking up our cross.