Taking sides in a church problem is a quick way to bring about a church split. Taking sides polarizes the church, making it vulnerable to Satan s attacks. Doing this creates hurt feelings and resentment. Some of these feelings can last for years. It has been 140 years since the Civil War and we can still feel the resentment in some parts of our country.
Conflicts can create long lasting divisions.
The story of Joshua s conquest of the Promised Land emphasizes this point. When Joshua asked him whose side he was on, the Commander of the Lord s Army said that He was on neither side, but was on God s side. As Christians, we are called to be defenders of truth, the gospel, and what is right. We are not called to be defenders of a person, a position, or an organization. I bring this issue up because some of the problems we have within the Christian community is a result of blind loyalty.