I've Seen It Before...Now Once More

[Apprehended]

It is so sad...but for what cause? Could it be that one group is just a little more holy or a little more special in God's eyes than the other group? I think not. But what is really a tear jerker is to see the bitterness that always seem to follow.

A group of preachers with their congregations pull out of fellowship with the UPC. Congregations that were intertwined with extended blood famlies, marriage, children and grandchildren are ripped apart by indoctrinated suspicions of each by preachers on either side. Suspicions and subsequent division grows in the families.

Yes, I've seen it all before. Family reunions that used to be so sweet and special are no longer. Famlies are told not to associate with the other members of families on the other side of the divide. Church members and yes even close blood relatives will not speak to each other. I've seen them meet in grocery stores, malls and various places. When they spy each other, they grow cold, not even acknowledging the presence of the other church or family member. Yes, I've seen it all before.

Preachers who at once had sweet and blessed fellowship are no longer speaking to each other and scarcely have little to say complimentary of the other. Sometimes titanic intercity struggle errupts to carry away church members on the other side of the divide. Family members are enlisted to help in the pursuit. Two preachers who at once had great fellowship will ignore each other when face to face in a familiar restaurant. I have seen it before.

It now saddens me as I look upon the Apostolic landscape to see it all unfolding again as before. I grieve over the families that will be broken up. I grieve over the bitterness that will fester among the people of God. I grieve over the broken trust and fellowship. I grieve over the lost souls who will be lost to eterity...perhaps millions extrapulated over a hundred years or more Yes, millions of souls lost, directly as a result of this terrible, diabolical division that is now erupting among us. I can substantiate that number.

If there be someone reading this that is swept up by this heat wave of carnality and psuedo-holiness stand, I appeal to you on behalf of the body of Christ that shall not be divided to consider not following after the pathway of division, distrust, bitterness and destruction.

Indeed, I've seen it all before. It is not pretty. The consequences are not worth the obstinance of the fool's glory. I plead that you will reconsider for the sake of Christ, families, the church and the Spirit and bond of Peace.