Troublemakers in The Camp/Body of Christ

 A camp C A M P is a place where people of like minds or similar goals gather for a specific purpose. Whether it’s for fun, adventure, vacation, a spiritual retreat or maybe even business. 

It is generally outdoors, in a secluded or exclusive environment. But certainly, a camp could be held in a building as well. 

But what is key, is that the people who attend this camp have a singular purpose.

I’ve been to camps, well camp sites. I was never one to do the outdoorsy kind of activities. But I definitely endorse the idea.

Have any of you been to camp? If you have, I know it must have been memorable, impactful and hopefully something that you would recommend. You gain additional knowledge and you meet new friends, all of that is good.

Unfortunately, what can make a camp memorable also, could be something negative - troublemakers. People who are time wasters, people who are not focused, people who don’t understand the assignment, people who feel that their ideas are better than the organisers and would do everything in their power to sow seeds of discord.

The Bible says, there is nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1 verse 9 and I read from the New Living Translation version. ”History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new.“

So we are still seeing evidences of troublemakers in many camps in the body of Christ today. How do we deal with that?

Follow me here Family. Because I want to take this topic from a different angle. Because sometimes we tend to focus on the wrong thing.

Very often, we as Christians tend to run with certain erroneous sayings and practices. Why? Because it falls in line with our slackness, our mediocre living, our compromising and turning a blind eye in order to remain in the good graces of family members, our church brothers and sisters or our friends. 

Romans 12:9 says hate what is wrong and hold tightly to what is good.

Ephesians 5:11 says we must not partake in worthless deeds of evil and darkness, but instead expose them.

Proverbs 14:32-34 reminds us ”The wicked are crushed by disaster, but the godly have a refuge when they die. Wisdom is enshrined in an understanding heart; wisdom is not found among fools. Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people.“ 

So troublemakers. We know that troublemakers will be around till the end of time. Romans 8:7 tells us that ”…the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.“

In Matthew 24:9-13, Jesus, speaking about the end times, said ”“Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.“

I am suggesting today that since we know that there will always be troublemakers in the camp, we are to be concerned more about this from a Christian perspective…for the world will do what the world will do.

As Christians, we must do what our Father God expects us to do, so that this warped, twisted, confused and dark world may see the light of Jesus in us and illuminate their darkness. Matthew 5:16.

So what should we as Christians when we think there are troublemakers in the camp? Should we take a second look or should we condemn them, cast them out, and go along our way being the holier than thou? 

The question is too: who are the real troublemakers?

In the Bible, there was one who was referred to as a troublemaker - Elijah. 

Elijah was a prophet prominently featured in the books of 1st and 2nd Kings. His ministry took place during the reign of King Ahab in the northern kingdom of Israel.

In 1 Kings 18:20-40, Elijah confronted King Ahab over the worship of the false god Baal. Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to a test on Mount Carmel, where each group built an altar and called upon their respective gods to send fire. Despite the prophets of Baal's efforts, nothing happened. Then, Elijah prayed to the God of Israel, and fire consumed his altar. 

This led the people to acknowledge the true power of God, and Elijah seized the opportunity to bring about a revival of worship for the Lord. Also as a result of Elijah's prayer, the rains came, ending a severe drought in the land. 

So my question is, was Elijah really a troublemaker or was he just perceived as such because the leaders were in defiance of the ways of God? 

Elijah was bold enough to challenge the worship of the false god Baal and he boldly confronted corruption within the leadership. The leaders, King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, opposed Elijah because they saw him and not his message, which was from God. 

So this led to conflicts much like we see today - nations and churches being divided and warring against each other, people taking sides and forming cliques, and families and friends being at loggerheads.

And so anyone who would come and criticise or call out these situations, would be seen mostly as troublemakers. And you may even have leaders coming together calling them false prophets and urging the saints to guard the gates of the church and the nation.

Plain and simple, Elijah had a distaste for the wrong the religious leaders were allowing to happen, and he could not keep quiet. Elijah was direct and he was unyielding. 

Now if we are in the church and going along with customs and traditions and we don’t want to hurt the feelings of longstanding members, tithe payers, family and friends who are serving, we obviously would have a problem with anyone who comes in and calls us out, right? These people might even be called troublemakers. 1 Kings 18:17.

I do believe that some of these people who God sends with a word of rebuke and correction could have a different strategy. One that is not contentious, one that doesn’t create strife and division. If God gives you a word for somebody, give it and leave the rest to God. 

But certainly, the message must always be unwavering. 1 Kings 18:21. 

Elijah pointed out the real troublemaker in 1 Kings 18:18, because surely, if a Word troubles our spirit, it should provoke us into Holy living. Because if the same spirit which dwells in Christ Jesus dwells in us, how can the Word of God trouble us in a bad way? It will give us life. Romans 8:11. 

Remember, God loves us so much He chastens us. Hebrews 12:6. And we cannot despise the messenger by calling them troublemakers or whatever other words are used. 

Let us examine ourselves and come up higher, before it is too late.

We must remember Family, that in everything we do, we must continue to pray and ask God for spiritual discernment. In everything we do, it must be a witness for God. By our fruit, we must be known. Galatians 5:22-23.

And we must allow God to do His work, in His timing and in His own way. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7.

Family, the fear of the Lord must be in us. I must not come here teaching about God if I am not striving to live right as well. 

God wants us all to be holy as He is holy. 1 Peter 1:16. 

As we await the Lord’s soon return, our desire cannot be to satisfy the flesh.  I fight sometimes in the mornings to get out of bed, but in my showing up, I always get the victory as God gets the glory. The flesh naturally wars against the spirit and so flesh must die. Galatians 5:24.

Family, in the camp of Christendom, must there be troublemakers? How can there be, if we are serving the same God? How is division a witness to the unsaved? How is allowing mediocrity in the church, within ministries and in our family lives any encouragement to those who we are evangelising to? 

Of course there are certain things we have no control over and we pray, live exemplary Christian lives and leave the rest to God. 

But we’ve got to know which kingdom we are sitting under. I want to be seated in heavenly places, I want Jesus to be glorified in my life, and I believe we all do.

In the final analysis Family, wherever there is disorder, God will always bring order. Not you, not me. That’s the job of the Righteous Judge.

And so the big question for all of is found in 1 Kings 18:21 - “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” 

Is there silence from us today, is there compromising or is there compliance and obedience to the One and Only True and Living God?

aub 5 February 2024

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