Solution To Church Conflict

Loving God by Loving one Another

1 John 4:7-11

Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567

What happens when the people who are supposed to love each other the most turn against one another?

Have you ever walked into a church and sensed the tension in the air? Maybe it wasn’t spoken outright, but you knew—there were sides. Factions had formed. Trust was broken. And the warmth that once made that congregation feel like family had been replaced with whispers, resentment, and division. Sadly, this isn’t just a modern issue. Church splits, theological disputes, and relational breakdowns have plagued God’s people since the beginning. Even John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, faced a church tearing itself apart—one side clinging to the truth while the other distorted it in the name of progress. It’s easy to blame others for division, but James reminds us that conflict starts within: “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?” (James 4:1). If even John—a direct disciple of Jesus—couldn’t prevent division, what hope do we have? The answer isn’t more theological debates, better leadership strategies, or even stricter church governance. The answer is found in something far more radical: agape love. Have you ever found yourself caught in church tension, feeling the weight of division?

Today, we will explore how John confronted division, not with politics or power, but with the very thing that defines true followers of Christ: a love that is voluntary, unconditional, and sacrificial. Scripture challenges us to confront the presence of deceit, false teachings, and the divisive influences that threaten our unity (see 2?John 7; 1?John 2:4, 22; 1?John 4:1; 1?John 2:18, 22). In John’s time, as today, there were those who clung to old traditions while embracing new ideas that undermined the core tenets of our faith. John could not remain silent when some claimed sinlessness yet refused to love one another, obey God, or acknowledge Jesus as the Christ (1?John 1:8–10; 1?John 1:6; 1?John 2:9, 11; 3:10–18; 1?John 2:22).

We are called to emulate the love Christ demonstrated on the cross—voluntary, unconditional, and sacrificial. As we prepare to hear John’s admonitions and guidance, let us open our hearts to forgive, to seek understanding, and to extend love even toward those we might have too quickly dismissed. In doing so, we not only uphold the unity of our church but also reflect the very nature of Christ’s love in our daily lives.

What Causes Quarrels and Fights?

Even within the sanctity of our church communities, human frailty often gives way to discord. Quarrels and conflicts emerge as stark reminders of our ongoing need for forgiveness and reconciliation. Apostle Paul reminds us that every believer wrestles with deep-seated strongholds in their thinking (1 Corinthians 10:3–5). While we long to echo his declaration, “I have died so that Christ might live in me” (Galatians 2:20), the truth is that we often struggle to overcome the pride of life—the tendency to believe we are the best interpreters of God’s Word, the sole arbiters of His will, and the ultimate exemplars of holiness. As our finite faith attempts to comprehend what Tozer once called the “Unknowable,” those with motes of sin in their eyes (Matthew 7:3–5) and limited understanding frequently clash over what it truly means to live a life worthy of the Gospel. Rather than celebrating our differences and striving for unity in the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12–31), some among us resort to backbiting, politicizing, and slandering others in a misguided effort to assert superiority. If we are to allow “iron to sharpen iron” (Proverbs 27:17), should we not embrace our diverse opinions through prayer and fasting, seeking a deeper understanding of God’s truth? Even when others have clearly erred, are we not called to extend grace and mercy as we collectively pursue peace (Ephesians 4:3)?

Even as God’s children, we are not immune to the trap of intellectual and spiritual superiority. With an estimated 47,000 Christian denominations worldwide, the schisms we witness—even within John’s own church—reveal not so much a failure of leadership as an epidemic afflicting our congregations today. So, what is the remedy? Is it enhanced conflict management training for pastors or more rigorous theological insights handed down from a centralized denomination? For John, neither option addresses the real issue at hand. What truly causes quarrels and conflicts to escalate into indifference or hatred is a lack of genuine love—for God and for one another. Let us now turn to John’s passage and discover how agape love can serve as the antidote to pride and intolerance.

A pastor once joked about a church that split over the color of the carpet. One half wanted blue for a calming effect, while the other insisted red brought holy energy. He quipped, 'In the end, they didn't just choose a color; they painted the town divided! But as they learned, it’s not about the carpet we walk on but the love that we stand upon.' What if the biggest problem in church division isn’t ‘them’ but ‘us’?