Reason and Unity

Because our understanding is limited, misunderstandings are a common part of life.  The more we are exposed to the way people think, what they do and the choices they make, we are exposed to potential conflicts due to misunderstanding when as a result we make judgments.  We can make incomplete or inaccurate assessments and thus poor judgments when we allow our own assumptions or suggestions of others to fill in the gaps in our understanding.  Division and discord can be the result of our reluctance and unwillingness to go to others from the start and simply discuss our observations with brothers and sisters in Christ.  While this may be uncomfortable or the other person might react defensively, when done in a loving manner it works to draw us closer to one another and the LORD.

I suspect we Christians do not always deal with our misunderstandings when we are confident in ourselves as being in the right.  Why should we talk about things with others we have already determined based upon our own observations?  The children of Israel set a good example of how to deal with misunderstandings with our Christian brethren after the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half tribe of Manasseh went to their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan.  The Hebrews on the west were disturbed to see a large altar built after the pattern of the altar at the tabernacle had been erected by the eastern tribes, as the Law of Moses forbade sacrifices to be offered to the LORD on any other altar.  The remaining tribes immediately gathered for battle (if necessary!) and sent a delegation of rulers to inquire further concerning the altar.  This was a good step, but they could have done better to allow and explanation rather than immediately accuse their brothers of sin.

They made their condemnation of building the altar plain in Joshua 22:16:  "Thus says the whole congregation of the LORD: 'What treachery is this that you have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the LORD, in that you have built for yourselves an altar, that you might rebel this day against the LORD?"  Sometimes we do others and ourselves the disservice of not voicing our concerns to them, to write them off or even attack them without initiating an opportunity to reason together.  The delegates launched into a long list of the Hebrew's previous sins and lumped the building of the altar in with other infamous rebellions.  It turned out, however, to be a complete misunderstanding.  The tribes of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh understood the optics yet explained their own concern:  because the Jordan river acted as a boundary between them, future generations might not recognise the eastern tribes as belonging to the congregation of the Hebrews.  They built the replica altar not for the purpose of offering sacrifices, but as a witness to future generations they had a portion in the LORD as His people.

Joshua 22:30-31 says, "Now when Phinehas the priest and the rulers of the congregation, the heads of the divisions of Israel who were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and the children of Manasseh spoke, it pleased them. ³¹ Then Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said to the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and the children of Manasseh, "This day we perceive that the LORD is among us, because you have not committed this treachery against the LORD. Now you have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the LORD."  The tribes on the west assumed the worst and accused the eastern tribes of treachery against God, yet when the reason behind the altar was explained their minds changed and the animosity that was stirred up was replaced with encouragement.  The western tribes among themselves could not imagine what good purpose was possible in the building of the altar, and humble reasoning with their brethren led to renewed good will and increased unity.  This interaction teaches me the fear of the LORD ought to unite His people even if we are on the opposite side of the Jordan on an issue, so to speak.  The result of our discussions with one another may not result in us thinking the same way or doing the same things, but we can gain appreciation for why they do what they do without assuming they lack godly character.

In this case it was the the offended party that humbled themselves to accept the altar as a witness between them.  It was not like the western tribes were unwilling to discuss the situation until the eastern tribes removed the abomination they had built.  Imagine the awful damage that would have been done to send the army over before the delegation was sent!  Sometimes we can be like this with differences and misunderstandings--and actual faults--in the church.  We can be quick to contend with or bail on fellow Christians or a church because there are things we do not agree with or that displeases us, even condemning others for what is revealed to be our own misunderstanding.  I'm glad the western tribes did not do this with tribes on the east of the Jordan, and I am grateful for those who have extended grace to me and talked things through before having their mind already made up about my motives.  Let us be the ones who, in love of God and one another, are willing to be wrong about our assumptions and speak directly with others when concerning situations arise.