Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. Romans 14:19
The late Gospel preacher Dave Kember used to tell a story of a young man recently brought into fellowship in an Assembly. After a few weeks, the young man asked for a meeting with the Assembly oversight. At that meeting, he pointed out to the elders that he had certain abilities that he wished to make available to the Assembly leadership. Therefore, he was asking for the place within the Assembly oversight that he deserved. One wise old elder looked the upstart in the eye and declared, ‘Young man, if we were given the place we deserved, we would be in hell. Meeting adjourned!’ This incident helps us to understand that God’s Assembly is not a place where we can push our own agendas or advance our own ambitions. As our text declares, the primary agendas within the Assembly are to work for peace among the Lord’s people and edification of the Lord’s people.
Oh how the devil hates peace among those in the Assembly fellowship! Peace allows the Holy Spirit to work so that worship is sweet and service is effective. This is the message of Psalm 133 which declares how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. The Psalm likens that unity to the precious ointment that was poured on the high priest – a fragrance that was pleasing to God. It also likens that unity to the dews of Mount Hermon and the refreshing blessing. If peace is so important among the Lord’s people, how do we strive to maintain it? For one thing, we need to make sure we are not the cause – or the furtherance – of anything that disturbs the peace. We will never agree perfectly with everything everyone else in the Assembly says or does, but there is never any excuse for being disagreeable about our differences. If we approach each issue with a loving spirit, we will be less likely to irritate others by our positions on those issues. A humble approach will also result in less embarrassment in the rare occasions when we are actually wrong.
If our agenda is to include the edifying of each other, we need to understand how we are to do that. Not everybody, and certainly not the sisters, can give a word of ministry during Assembly meetings or give clear teaching during the Bible readings. While these are invaluable venues for edification, there are many ways for us to all be involved in this important role. To do this, we must first of all have a solid grasp of Scriptural principles regarding Christ, the Assembly, and godly living. This is obtained by our own Bible study, by listening to and reading good ministry from capable teachers, and by actively discussing and asking questions while with other believers. When we are well grounded in the truth, we can share that knowledge as opportunity arises. And the goal should never be to show others how much we know, but how much we care.
If there is to be peace and edification in God’s Assembly, it is up to each of us to do our part. -Jim MacIntosh