ANTAGONISM - ACTIVELY EXPRESSING HOSTILITY
In every good story there is an antagonist who tries to overcome the hero or protagonist. We usually cheer for the protagonist and hope that he can win over this ‘bad guy’. Our lives are no different really. God is the protagonist of the universe and Satan is the antagonist. We usually cheer for God, so to speak, by being obedient to him and his cause, but sometimes there are those among us who fight on Satan’s side.
James tells us that this attitude and behavior is sinful. (James 3:14-18) But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. {15} This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. {16} For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. {17} But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. {18} And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
There will always be someone who will cause strife and contention, but we need to be sure that someone is not us. We also need to be firmly committed to working for God and not for the antagonist and his followers. The church is commanded to deal with antagonists who cause strife and divisions and rebel against God. In the Old Testament the people promise Joshua in Joshua 1:18 that if there are any rebels they will be put to death. In the New Testament, however, we are not called to execute them, but we are to MARK them and AVOID them. Paul makes this clear for us in Romans; (Rom 16:17) Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. We all know of people who are antagonistic toward Christ and the gospel. Have we marked and avoided them, or do we spend time in fellowship with these individuals. We need to first be sure that we are not antagonists and second avoid contact with those who are. An individual exhibiting antagonism toward Christ and the church needs to be brought to the attention of the Elders so that they can effectively correct the situation through teaching and/or discipline.
There is an old camp song we used to sing that went like this: “Tell me whose side are you fightin’ on.” and the reply was “I’m fightin’ on the Lord’s side”. So whose side are you fighting on?
In every good story there is an antagonist who tries to overcome the hero or protagonist. We usually cheer for the protagonist and hope that he can win over this ‘bad guy’. Our lives are no different really. God is the protagonist of the universe and Satan is the antagonist. We usually cheer for God, so to speak, by being obedient to him and his cause, but sometimes there are those among us who fight on Satan’s side.
James tells us that this attitude and behavior is sinful. (James 3:14-18) But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. {15} This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. {16} For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. {17} But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. {18} And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
There will always be someone who will cause strife and contention, but we need to be sure that someone is not us. We also need to be firmly committed to working for God and not for the antagonist and his followers. The church is commanded to deal with antagonists who cause strife and divisions and rebel against God. In the Old Testament the people promise Joshua in Joshua 1:18 that if there are any rebels they will be put to death. In the New Testament, however, we are not called to execute them, but we are to MARK them and AVOID them. Paul makes this clear for us in Romans; (Rom 16:17) Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. We all know of people who are antagonistic toward Christ and the gospel. Have we marked and avoided them, or do we spend time in fellowship with these individuals. We need to first be sure that we are not antagonists and second avoid contact with those who are. An individual exhibiting antagonism toward Christ and the church needs to be brought to the attention of the Elders so that they can effectively correct the situation through teaching and/or discipline.
There is an old camp song we used to sing that went like this: “Tell me whose side are you fightin’ on.” and the reply was “I’m fightin’ on the Lord’s side”. So whose side are you fighting on?
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