Curing All Problems

All of us are flawed.  Everyone you hold up on a pedestal as whom you admire, or want to be, is just as flawed - if not so than you are.  Everyone ... means everyone!  Your family, same as you.  Your religious leaders, same as you.  Your politicians, same as you (probably worse than you!).

All of us are flawed and if you join any form of an organization, you are going to take your flaws with you.  Unfortunately, that is especially true of churches.  My church, your church, all churches are teeming with 1000% flawed people.

And flawed people cause nothing but problems with other flawed people ...

Philippians 4:1 - 5

The church in Philippi managed to encounter a run in between two flawed women.  Does not really matter whom they are, they are the same as you and I only the church became embroiled in their fight.

Paul does not tell us what the fight was over, bad coffee choice during fellowship snack time, fighting over how baptisms are done, not being allowed to sing in the choir, etc - ad nausem, as I have encountered through the years in very flawed churches!  And since Paul said nothing as to what the problem was - we can apply his solution to all situations!

All Christians are a part of God's family and we must handle conflict God's way ...

1. Love
If you know Love, if you love, then you will fight less amongst yourselves.

2.  Stand
Stand firm in the Lord and His word in Love, not your opinion.

3.  Plead
Unity is a big deal to God.  We must find a way to get along with one another!  It is important and that lack of our effort is evidenced by the lack of blessings we have from God corporately.

4.  Help
When one fails, we all fail.  When one falls, we all suffer for it.  We are to lift up one another in all regards, without consideration except for our debt to Jesus for what He has done for us.

5. Rejoice
Criticism lives where praise does not - and visa-versa!  So, guard that sharply barged tongue of yours and learn to praise others convincingly in truth!

6.  Calm
Gentileness is needs to be reflected in your attitudes towards others in the church!  It can really make a difference in a family as much as in a church!