If you were to have asked me years before I became a believer where I thought attacks on Christians would most likely come from, I would’ve said, “From unbelievers and skeptics, of course…makes perfect sense to me!”

Fast forward to me today, a pastor with nearly a decade and a half of full-time ministry under his belt; I’ve literally taught thousands of messages and written thousands of pages for my blog (I’m going to estimate that I’ve written somewhere in the neighborhood of a thousand blog entries). I always knew that when God called me out to shepherd a flock, I’d be under attack, if not sometimes, then always. I was absolutely correct. But I was dead wrong about where the attacks would come from.

It turns out that the vast majority of attacks, and all serious attacks, have come from within so-called “Christianity”. Go figure. I’m no longer shocked – first time shame on you, second time shame on me, right? The truth is that Christians are really good at devouring one another, even better than unbelievers. The apostle Paul apparently understood this issue in the churches as well.

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
-Galatians 5:13-15

The wisest man who will ever live, Jesus Christ, once said:

If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.
-Mark 3:24-25

What does it mean for us that Christians have proven themselves to be the nastiest attackers of other Christians? What would Jesus have to say to folks who publicly attack well-intentioned believers, tempting them to anger and strife (“For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God” – James 1:20)? Well, I can quote Him again to give you a hint.

Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.
-Mark 9:42

It seems Jesus had little tolerance for those who would make members of His flock, His blessed sheep (ala John 10), stumble into sin. He, like any one of His under-shepherds worth their salt (e.g., yours truly), was fiercely protective over His own. Attacking a believer is antithetical to loving them.

The writer of the Book of Hebrews was cut from the same cloth as Jesus, as evidenced by the words he wrote.

But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
-Hebrews 3:13

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
-Hebrews 10:24-25

The writer of Hebrews encouraged believers in Christ to stick together. Heck, it’s hard enough withstanding the constant pressure from without, never mind having to endure it more intensely from within! And yet, in my experience, this is how it has been. Where’s the love, I ask? Where’s the unity of the faith that Paul wrote about in Ephesians 4:13? How can venom between Christians ever bring glory to God?

My friends, we’re supposed to stick together.

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
-Romans 13:8-14

Sadly, I don’t see much changing en masse; however, maybe you will examine your own ways. I see so-called “Christianity” today falling to pieces, gnawing its own limbs off to divide the Body of Christ. It’s a tragedy that Satan and the kingdom of darkness has exploited and encouraged. We don’t all need to like each other, but we are called to love one another.

Let’s stick together instead of making each other stumble. If you know someone who might benefit from this blog, please forward it to them.

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
-Hebrews 12:12-14

Love in Christ,

Ed Collins