It is becoming an almost rare thing, but I think I can make my little word picture understood here. At our home we yet do much heating with wood. It makes for a very comfortable heat source. Much of our firewood is quite large and requires splitting in order to fit in our wood stove. The process of splitting this wood results in a fairly large amount of small and splintered pieces. Though these pieces are small and splintered they are yet authentic parts of the whole and are good firewood.
This reminds me of what has happened to the “Christian” family these days. I rather doubt there has been another time historically when God’s people have found themselves so “splintered up”. Just yesterday I received a request from an evangelist looking for places to minister. He was forthright enough to explain his doctrinal position. He has bought into the King James only position. I don’t doubt that this man is a good and faithful brother and evangelist. However that King James only position is one of the things that has splintered up God’s people and that quite severely. The fault of that splintering can be argued against either side. Yet the truth is that these conflicting positions on this particular translation of the Bible have become so inflamed that a ministering fellowship between the different parties is not possible.
This is most certainly not the only thing that has become a “splintering” issue. Music is an issue that has divided the Christian family. Differing positions on Calvinism have divided good brothers. Church polity issues have divided us ever since the reformation. I am finding that learning to live graciously and wisely among these divisions is a great challenge. I for one would like to learn to live respectfully in this growing pile of splinters (authentic and good brothers) while yet I greatly regret this current condition. If we can learn to live graciously in this splinter pile it will likely be a little less satisfying to our old enemy Satan who is our real foe.
