One Side or the Other?
I think a lot about church. To say that it’s on my mind quite often is probably an understatement. I don’t say that to say “Oh look at me, I’m so churchy!” That is absolutely not what this is about. This is about some scripture I read this morning that really dinged my bell with what I believe is happening in most communities. Misinterpretation and understanding of:
- The Word of God
- Each other
- Our job
This morning I was reading in the book of Joshua, chapters 20-23, and as it often is with me and the books of history, I struggle with the pronunciation of names, the importance of lists and the receipt of a personal message from those portions of the Word. So as I read through acre after acre of Promised Land Property division and which tribe went to which area, I prayed, Lord, please give a nugget of something I can apply to me personally. And then, there it was.
As the Israelites prepared to cross the Jordan a group of them, the Reubenites, Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh determined that the land just before crossing the Jordan was great land for farming, cattle and the like, so they asked Moses if they could stay there. The answer was yes with one condition, that the men crossed Jordan and helped Israel win the battles for the property on the other side. And so they did. For seven years they left their families and fought the wars to gain the Promised Land for all of Israel and now it was their turn to go home, back across the Jordan. I’ll bet that was an excited group of men.
But just before they crossed back over Jordan, scripture says that the group built an altar.
Joshua 22:9-10 KJV
And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go unto the country of Gilead, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses. [10] And when they came unto the borders of Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to.
They didn’t build some little pidly thing, they built a great (impressive) altar. Well as it is in any good Baptist church, it didn’t take long for the gossip to make it back to headquarters about this altar. And when the report came across the desk of Joshua, it didn’t sound good.
Joshua 22:12-14 KJV
[12] And when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up to war against them. [13] And the children of Israel sent unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, [14] And with him ten princes, of each chief house a prince throughout all the tribes of Israel; and each one was an head of the house of their fathers among the thousands of Israel.
A great number of the high muckety mucks of Israel went to address the “transjordanians.” Those living on the other side. That was a new word for me from my Moody Commentary. They were very frightened about the action of this altar. The altar evidently wasn’t clearly marked as to who it was built for. So Joshua and the other Israelites, remembering God’s punishment on Israel for worshipping other god’s as they traveled the wilderness, demanded to know the origin of the building of this altar, because to them it looked like treason. The feared God would judge all of them for the acts of those living on the other side of Jordan.
The indicted tribes denied the charges brought against them:
Joshua 22:22-29 KJV – The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the LORD, (save us not this day,) [23] That we have built us an altar to turn from following the LORD, or if to offer thereon burnt offering or meat offering, or if to offer peace offerings thereon, let the LORD himself require it; [24] And if we have not rather done it for fear of this thing, saying, In time to come your children might speak unto our children, saying, What have ye to do with the LORD God of Israel? [25] For the LORD hath made Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no part in the LORD: so shall your children make our children cease from fearing the LORD. [26] Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice: [27] But that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the LORD. [28] Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should so say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say again, Behold the pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between us and you. [29] God forbid that we should rebel against the LORD, and turn this day from following the LORD, to build an altar for burnt offerings, for meat offerings, or for sacrifices, beside the altar of the LORD our God that is before his tabernacle.
So they all discovered that they were all on the same side, and nobody had crossed over to the dark side.
Now, how does this relate to modern day churches?
THE WORD OF GOD, GOD’S PEOPLE AND OUR JOB
Let me preface this by saying that I believe there is one way to Heaven. Through Jesus, believing His death on the cross as a sacrifice and atonement for the sins of all men, His resurrection and ascension to Heaven and His return from Heaven in the future. That is where I stand. Likely, if you’re reading my blog, you’re in that league as well.
The problem with churches comes in when people determine doctrinal differences that are as much of a divide as the Jordan River and have nothing to do with the salvation of souls. I started down the rabbit hole of various doctrinal differences, but this blog would be 20,000 words if I continued, so I’m just going to leave it with this statement:
If you are more concerned about women in britches, and men in pink than you are about the love of God you would have gone ahead and gone to war with the transjordanians before even finding out the facts. I’m not talking about the sin of homosexuality. That’s clear for me. But judging a man’s heart by his britches or woman’s heart for that matter is wrong. We’re not to judge another’s heart. The Bible says show me their fruit. It did not say show me their hemline.
That is by far not the only doctrinal difference, that’s just one that always get’s my goat. What about Bible versions? I’m in trouble with independent Baptist for even bringing it up. I personally am a KJV 1611 gal. My daddy raise me that way, and when I was saved and understanding of the Word of God, I made the decision to remain a KJV gal. With that being said, I have friends that read other versions and I believe that is between them and God. I can fellowship, worship and pray without being offended that they didn’t read from my version. I’m reading from my version… that’s all that matters to me. I brought up my children and grandchildren to read the KJV, when they’re grown, that decision falls to them. But like my Dad, I raised them as I believed.
I love the brothers and sisters of Christ. Those of all churches of Jesus Christ. That preach that He alone is the way. I love all people, but I’ll not make a habit of fellowshipping with heathens, lest I be a heathen too. If my brothers and sisters preach Jesus I would enjoy a fellowship meal, service or revival with them. It would not cause me to change churches, but the feeling of being unwelcome would cause me not to return.
All that being said. My issue with the transjordanians is, their altar didn’t clearly represent God. We as believers have to clearly represent God in truth. When God says something is wrong, we clearly say it’s wrong, and live it. So often, churches refuse to stand on the word of God, but will skirt around issues as not to offend. That’s not bible. What God meant, He said. And He said loud and clear. If we’re going to build us an altar, or a church, the name of Jesus should be very clear. What God said was sin should not be accepted, condoned or ignored. Everyone should be welcome at our altar, to pray to our God.
When you see a brother or a sister on the other side of the river, let them know they’re welcome on your side and you know that they’re okay on their side.
Our job is show people Christ, not ourselves.
Today’s Bible Journaling:
