Friendly Fire defined:  During a war, being wounded or killed by those from your own side—not from the enemy. 

The church who love Jesus attracts other imperfect people seeking a love that is real. As in Paul’s time and in ours, the world around us is unprincipled with dark manipulating ways of living life that cause pain, hurting more than it helping people.  The church is and was called out of this world to be different. 

The church was built on Jesus Christ, who died for the sins of the world—all of them.  Acknowledging our sins and repenting them to Jesus is the only way to begin a relationship with God.  Jesus also defeated death by rising from death to not only demonstrate the power of God but to provide all who believe the Hope of eternal life with God.  These gatherings of people, called church with Jesus as the Head, the One we believe in and trust, were formed to make disciples of Jesus.  It all began with the authoritative command given by God through Jesus His Son to His followers before Jesus returned to heaven:

“…go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” 

The battles that exist while living in this imperfect world begin with the Enemy of God.  The enemy works diligently to take back who Jesus saved and reconciled to God.  He is in our churches stirring hearts, distracting minds, while clutching at our very souls with his fingers of deception, division, envy, and pride while thinking the worst not the best in all people as we compare and compete with others. 

Paul is called, like all of us, to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing in the name of God, Jesus and His Holy Spirit and he spends a great deal of time TEACHING all to obey God and His ways of living life to the full.  This is yet another time to teach how to build each other up as we strive to “a life shaped by Christ.”

2 Corinthians 10, The Message

Tearing Down Barriers

^1-2 And now a personal but most urgent matter; I write in the gentle but firm spirit of Christ. I hear that I’m being painted as cringing and wishy-washy when I’m with you, but harsh and demanding when at a safe distance writing letters. Please don’t force me to take a hard line when I’m present with you. Don’t think that I’ll hesitate a single minute to stand up to those who say I’m an unprincipled opportunist. Then they’ll have to eat their words.

^3-6 The world is unprincipled. It’s dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn’t fight fair. But we don’t live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.

^7-8 You stare and stare at the obvious, but you can’t see the forest for the trees. If you’re looking for a clear example of someone on Christ’s side, why do you so quickly cut me out? Believe me, I am quite sure of my standing with Christ. You may think I overstate the authority he gave me, but I’m not backing off. Every bit of my commitment is for the purpose of building you up, after all, not tearing you down.

^9-11 And what’s this talk about me bullying you with my letters? “His letters are brawny and potent, but in person he’s a weakling and mumbles when he talks.” Such talk won’t survive scrutiny. What we write when away, we do when present. We’re the exact same people, absent or present, in letter or in person.

¹² We’re not, understand, putting ourselves in a league with those who boast that they’re our superiors. We wouldn’t dare do that. But in all this comparing and grading and competing, they quite miss the point.

^13-14 We aren’t making outrageous claims here. We’re sticking to the limits of what God has set for us. But there can be no question that those limits reach to and include you. We’re not moving into someone else’s “territory.” We were already there with you, weren’t we? We were the first ones to get there with the Message of Christ, right? So how can there be any question of overstepping our bounds by writing or visiting you?

^15-18 We’re not barging in on the rightful work of others, interfering with their ministries, demanding a place in the sun with them. What we’re hoping for is that as your lives grow in faith, you’ll play a part within our expanding work. And we’ll all still be within the limits God sets as we proclaim the Message in countries beyond Corinth. But we have no intention of moving in on what others have done and taking credit for it. “If you want to claim credit, claim it for God.” What you say about yourself means nothing in God’s work. It’s what God says about you that makes the difference.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Paul talks about those who manipulate versus those who speak the truth with the love of God.  There is a difference between manipulation and persuasion.  It all depends with what is in the heart.  Those who use words to change minds to suit their needs and advance personal agendas—manipulate. They are looking for people who will support them.

Those who are called to speak Truth in the Name of Jesus without thought of themselves or what how it will benefit them personally—persuade.  They are looking for people that need a Savior like they did, and eagerly seek to point The Way to God through Jesus. 

Led by God’s Holy Spirit, Paul points out this difference in his teaching.  He is warning people to avoid manipulators looking for personal gain who attack others in the faith.  He adds that this way of life is what we today call spiritual “bullying” of people. Their words and accusations are meant to tear people down.  Truth is, this behavior does not belong in the “family” Jesus is building with people who are not perfect but are perfectly forgiven and who strive to live a life shaped daily by Christ!

Manipulators miss the point!

Those who are self-serving are sarcastic, negative, tell people only what they want to hear, make promises that cannot or have no intention to keep, and do things for people expecting more in return.  Paul nailed it when he described manipulators as those who rank people with caddy comparisons while tireless competition (even in “doing good”) becomes the theme of a manipulator’s life.  All have sinned and “fall short” of the glory of God in this so we must ask, where is the love of Jesus in all this way of thinking? 

Dear friends, why do we “shoot our own” in the battle for lost souls?  Oh, how it grieves the heart of God!

Jesus reiterated God’s original command to “Love God with all your hearts, minds, and souls. And to love your neighbor as yourself.”  Love God.  Love Others.  Jesus showed us this love with a compassion never before seen by the world.  Jesus loved the world to whom He was sent.  He moved into the neighborhood of humanity and loved each one without criticism or condemnation, only caring compassion. 

God demonstrated His Love personally through His Son.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17

To imitate Jesus, we must first receive God’s gift of Love by truly believing Jesus and what He did to save us.  To know God is to know Love,” John teaches. The more we know God, the more deeply we love like God. (1 John 4-7-8) God loves us—completely and unconditionally.  God so love the world—all people of all nations.  We are called to do the same—love with the Love of God in us.  When there is a need to confront each other so our dear brother of sister can avoid a dangerous pitfall, we are commanded to speak privately to them, in a spirit of Truth because we love them so dearly.  Our words, led by God’s Holy Spirit, and delivered with the love of God in us, are meant to help, not to hinder a growing soul.  

Paul learned that certain rival preachers had succeeded in their attempt to discredit him before a few Corinthian Christians. God gives spiritual leaders to provide order and direction. We need to uphold and respect these leaders until there is evidence they are no longer speaking Truth and begin to manipulate to satisfy their own self interests.  However, as Paul writes, God is still in control.  “…God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” –Paul, Romans 8:28 

The reassuring lesson is clear. God used (and uses!) all kinds of people to change the world. People! Not saints or superhumans or geniuses, but people. Crooks, creeps, lovers, and liars—he uses them all. And what they may lack in perfection, God makes up for in love.  There is no one who God does not love.

Our response?  Participate in conversations that encourage and build up each other rather than criticize or demean them. And if we have a legitimate concern, go directly to the leader before you complain to others.  Lead with the Love of God is us.

Lord,

There is great wisdom in how Paul responded to criticism of his leadership along with condemnation of his personal ministry to others.  We remember well that Jesus also received complaints and harassment from the religious who were blind to who He was and deaf to what He said—Truth.  We seek to remain in Truth.

When we tear people down with gossip, accusations, comparing one to another while competing with other leaders for attention—we must repent.  I repent.  Cleanse our hearts, renew our minds, refresh our souls with your mercies that are new each day and restore the joy and peace of you in us and us in you.

In Jesus Name, Amen