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Why are Christians allowed to injure and hurt each other?",,,we always hurt the ones we love" it has been said. At times it seems so. If so, why is it so often in the church of Jesus Christ? How can these things be...thing that "ought not to be so"...? (1 Timothy 5:13).

God allows us to injure each other - it is obvious. We should not, but in His wisdom, if we allow the Holy Spirit to do His work, it s alot like pain in the physical body which has been put there to tell us that something isn't working the way God intended. Relationship is often pictured in thed Bible as progressive process into more intemancy. Jesus referred to the diciplbes' position as a progressive form servants to friends. Upon conversion we become brothers and sisters, and sons and daughters of Jesus to God the Father (John 15:13-15; 2 Corinthians 6:18; 1 Timothy 5:2).

The history of the church of Jesus Christ down through the ages is a redorc of wonderful joy of fellowship, mutural caring and sharing (Acts 2:41-47), along with terrible strif, betrayal, conflich and even way as the centuries past. In more modern times, there has been no end to splits, divisions and sub-divions, and other sundry records of the infamous "church mess". sometimes the hurting is so severy some will not so much aspeak to another. Somestimes hatred encoues. How could this have occkured, and could it continue to this day, in one form or another? Many reasons have been proferred, ranging from "chinging times" (its not the times that changed however...), to outright hetical teachings, the influence of other religions and beliefs, neglect, lack of real conversion, etc. some or all of these may have an inpact. However, in most cases these are not really causes, but the iffect of something elas - something much more basis. So basic that it should be obvious perhaps. Again, the tendency is for us to overlook the obvious.

Gods Word records many wornings and prophecies, stated in many different ways and contexts about thiese "effect" that would be, and are being experienced among His people. Jesus warned that from that time on there would be many "problems" have had their roots in perhaps the most important element of Christian, as well as in all human existence and relationships. iAs we have seen from past articles, all human "problems" are apirirual - origin, activity, and solution.

However, the solution to relationship difficulties among spirit-begotten children of God can re approached from direct than those in the world. Those of no belief in Jesus Christ have a much longer route to take before real solution in their srlationships. As weas mentioned last week, God allows crutchrs. And crutches. And crutches have enabled human kind to hobble along for a long time. God has allowed us to "helped with a little help (Danies 11:34). It seems to be on a small limb, connected to a larger limb, connected to an even larger limb connected to huge trunk, connected to a root system in the ground that is more important than the trunk of he tree. The trunk quiet obvious, and yet overlooked or ignored.

The Bible speaks of the "simplicity that is in Christ " (2 Corinthians 11:3). Here, in this simple statement lies the cor solution to all relationship problem and difficulties among the followers of Jesus. Simplicity as such is not like simplicity. It's just not exciting enough. So far we have tried to set the stage for the simpls - because none of us like thins too simple - that could imply corresponding small value and an unworkable solution.

But its time now to look specificly at the simple to Christian relational difficulties.

Assumings that one calling one's self a Christian, and has received the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38}, the key to Christians relating with each other is this. Christians must relate to each other upward through Christ, and then downward into ech other. Many try to relate directly without going through Jesus to get to the other. Put more simple, we simply leave Jesus out of the loop. We cannot - if we are in Christ, and Christ is in us - relate successfully to each other outside of Christ. Many times we attempt to relate to a brother or sister in Christ the world's way employing the world’s methods. Anytime this is done, we also leave ourselves wide open for an attack by the roaring lion. His intention is to eventually drive a wedge, divide and conquer - and finally destroy the relationship (1 Peter 5:8) The trouble with all relationships, when there is trouble, is the lack of oneness with Christ.

Christian relationships originate and are maintained correctly in Jesus alone. Otherwise, they will end in the painful realization that something is wrong that only He can fix. We must relate to others through Christ, not to Christ through others. Otherwise the current of peace and love is short circuited. Go through Jesus first in your relationship to your brother or sister in Christ. He will join you. In all things give Him the preeminence.

In time He will mold you into a relationship that is a beautiful extension of Himself.

"Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word, that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me."- John 17:20-23 (KJV)

"'Winging It" from Stan Smith

Washed by the Water of the Word