What does EGW write about...
Adventistische Schriften über: "Read Philippians 2:1-3. What factors seem to have led to disunity within the congregation? What does Paul recommend as a countermeasure?"
Answer
Disunity within the congregation often arose from quarrelsomeness, vanity (the desire for glory), grumbling and mistrust among believers. Paul also identified prejudice, jealousy, and the twisting of his words as factors that weakened the community. As a countermeasure, he recommends humility, in which each person regards the other as higher than oneself, as well as striving for the same mindset and love in Christ.
Harmony instead of quarrelsomeness and vanity
Paul writes: “Is there any consolation in Christ, any comfort of love, any fellowship of the Spirit, any heartfelt mercy, then my joy is made complete by the fact that you are of like mind, have the same love, are of one accord, of one mind. Do nothing out of quarrelsomeness or vain honor, but in humility let each one regard the other higher than himself. ... Do everything without grumbling and doubt; so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God, without reproach, in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine like lights in the world.”
The necessity of strict unity
The apostles felt the necessity of strict unity and worked earnestly toward this goal. Paul admonished his brothers with these words: “But I exhort you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all say the same thing and that there be no divisions among you; but that you be completely joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
Danger through mistrust and false accusations
Thus it happened that with the increase of the disciples, the enemy succeeded in arousing the suspicion of some, who previously had the habit of looking at their brothers in faith with jealousy and seeking faults in their spiritual leaders, and so “a grumbling arose of the Greeks against the Hebrews.” The cause of the complaint was an alleged neglect of the Greek widows in daily support. ... Satan had succeeded in sowing mistrust.
Healing through love and the Holy Spirit
He explained that all requirements of the law, which set forth our duty toward our fellow humans, are fulfilled in love toward one another. He warned them that if they nurtured hatred and strife, they would split into factions and bite and devour each other like animals, bringing present misfortune and future ruin upon themselves. There was only one way to prevent these terrible evils, and that was, as the apostle commanded them, “to walk in the Spirit.”
- Unity in the congregation
- Humility and Christian mindset
- Overcoming quarrels and vanity
Original Sources (English)
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