Reject

Family Ties

As we are approaching not only Thanksgiving but the many gatherings of the holiday season, for many people these settings are not all joyous and harmonious. Some of this is because we are maybe more likely on these occasions to gather with people who we share some kind of familial connection with but with whom we do not share values and maybe don’t really have an active ongoing relationship. Others may be thrown together into social settings with coworkers with whom their only connection is the company or career. Even still the differences in political views, religious beliefs, and lifestyle habits can contribute to very contentious gatherings. 

In many cases I think that what we probably really want is to be welcomed and accepted by these other people. This is especially true when these are people whom we care about deeply, such as family. The issue really does come down to the fact that most of us do not want to be rejected by our friends, family, or community. 

I believe that this resistance to being rejected is a part of the image of God in us. God has made us to be communal beings and to have relationships and fellowship with one another. The reality is that sin is not a basis for building true relationships but only a basis for the destruction of a true covenantal community.

Church Splits

The New Testament is very clear that it is the will of God and of the head of the church, the Lord Jesus Christ, that we as His people are bound together in genuine unity. Jesus Himself taught this to His disciples with some of His final words before the cross (John 15:1-17). He also prayed to the Father for the unity that we should have in His final prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane (John 17). The point is that Jesus wants for his people to be united. 

I do not believe that the real problem today is different denominations or theological camps. Rather, it is the weakness of our covenantal bonds to our own local churches. As a pastor, I am glad to see strong bonds of love and fellowship even in church with which I do not agree theologically. Assuming that the churches are orthodox and they are truly worshiping God and proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ, I want to see them have unity and peace because that is what Jesus wants. 

If the Holy Spirit chooses to bring theological reformation to those churches praise the Lord but it may be our churches (like minded) that need a practical reformation and greater love for one another. The Apostle Paul in dealing with the factious problems in Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:10-17) acknowledges that the practical problems in their fellowship were actually evidence of much deeper spiritual problems in their membership (1 Corinthians 18-19).

On a personal note, when people think of church splits they probably think of the major blowup where some large portion of the church leaves to start their own competing meeting. But as a pastor, I must admit that it hurts deeply every time someone leaves the fellowship. Of course there are cases when someone moves away and the separation is not based on them “leaving” the church. But whenever someone chooses to leave it feels like a rejection which cuts deeply and emotionally.

Spousal Separation

Another area of life where this kind of sharp rejection is often encountered is in marriage. Husbands and wives have made covenantal promises to one another and when those promises seem to be broken it brings about deep feelings of rejection. This does not have to be infidelity. It could be rejection of a spouse in favor of a job, hobby, or even some unknown or uncommunicated reason. But the outcome is the same, the rejection results in pain and damage to the covenantal relationship.

Ultimate Rejection

I mentioned earlier that our longing for connection, community, relationship, and fellowship is a part of the image of God in us. I think that this is the case because throughout the Scripture the most prevalent way that God shows us the idolatrous sin of His people is to compare it with the adulterous sin of rejecting one’s spouse. I believe that God shares with us in some way an understanding of how evil and heinous it is to choose our idols over Him (Ezekiel 23).

Just as we may experience pain when we have been rejected and especially when rejected by those who have covenantally committed themselves to us, just imagine when God is rejected in favor of some puny, powerless idol. Idolatry is the most grave and serious of sins not only because the practice may be disgusting and reprehensible, but because idolatry is the blatant rejection of God!

So what can you do if you have become trapped in idolatry? If you have been enticed to love something else more than Christ? The only answer is to repent and flee to your first love! Fly to Jesus for He will receive you (Revelation 2:1-7)!

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