Satan greatly fears unity within the individual Believer, the family and the larger body of Christ. In the previous blog we examined his efforts to sow division in the heart of a believer. A double-minded, uncommitted believer is no threat to the demonic forces that shadow our land.
There can be little doubt that he also sows division and discord within the family unit. Keep in mind that the family was God’s first “institution” designed to occupy the land and spread His Kingdom on earth. It is here where we learn intimacy, unconditional love, acceptance, selflessness, and even boundaries. It is within the family setting that Believers are stretched to consistently display the full array of the love of Christ to its members. It is here where each member lives “naked” before others.
So how does the enemy worm his way into Christian homes in efforts to prevent unity?
One tactic is to exploit emotional immaturity. Emotional health is not emphasized in our culture – including the church. It takes conscious effort to be aware of what we are feeling and “why”. Self-awareness is not given value or priority. Therefore, many of us grow up building a major wall of self-protection. We desperately try to “keep out” anything and anyone that hurts us.
However, it is impossible to live in a family and not get wounded. It’s what we do with these hurts that matters the most. In an emotionally healthy marriage, such wounds can open the door to greater intimacy. But when one or both spouses lack emotional maturity, the door to isolation and division is opened.
Unforgiveness, resentment, distrust, bitterness, fear, discouragement, and indifference begin to set the tone for the environment. Such families strive to remain “functional” in appearance, while lacking the health needed to support true unity. The full measure of Godly love is neither experienced nor given. We live far below God’s intent.
Satan will also take advantage of our lack of relationship building skills. We are a culture that: fights to be heard, yet rarely listens; blames quickly, yet rarely takes personal responsibility; values our rights above our relationships; and, simply does not know how to enter another’s world without selfish intent. We look to others to fill our needs, find our security, and provide us with a sense of identity and worth.
Adding to the hurt and isolation is the fact that many families live at such a fast pace that deep, meaningful interactions rarely takes place. We live in the same house more or less as strangers. At best we make small talk over trivial matters – trying to fix or connect on some minor issue. Relationships don’t go to a level of deep intimacy because we lack the commitment and skills need to really connect with another’s heart.
Satan deceives us into accepting this level of loneliness and disconnect as normal. While it is true that only Christ can meet all our needs, He has designed the family unit to provide intimacy and serve as the example of His desire for intimate fellowship with His creation.
In a family – each believer is confronted with his or her own inadequacy to live up to the standard of Christ. They are also exposed to glimpses of the fallen nature that still influence their spouse and children. What we do when faced with these realities will determine the success of satan’s tactics to divide.
Join us for part three to discover how satan stirs division among the larger Body of Christ.
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