Transcript
Today let's talk about one of Satan's great strategies, and that is to divide and conquer. I'm going to read to you from Acts 6:1, where we read,
Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.
Satan's Strategy of Division
To this point in the book of Acts, Satan's attacks against the Church came in several different ways. Satan attempted many forms of direct opposition and intimidation, and he also tried to corrupt the Church from within. These strategies were all unsuccessful in stopping, or even slowing, the work of God in and through the Church.
Acts chapter 6 sees Satan with another strategy against God's people, division. The devil hoped to divide and conquer through neglect, misunderstanding, and cultural differences. We can say that with Acts chapters 5 and 6, the good old days were over for the earliest Christians. They now had to deal with internal corruption, and now disputes and potential divisions. How they dealt with those things made all the difference.
Growth Brings the Danger of Division
It all happened when the number of disciples was multiplying. Seasons of growth and opportunity for the Church are also seasons to be on guard against division. Even though the Church was growing, they still cared for each other practically. This practical care meant that the Christians organized help to help their widows with some kind of daily distribution of food.
As the Christians organized to meet the needs among their own, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. The Hebrews were those Jews more inclined to embrace Jewish culture and traditions. The Hellenists were those Jews more inclined to embrace Greek culture, and they were mostly from the diaspora from all over the Roman Empire. It's important to remember that though the titles Hebrews and Hellenists are used, these were Christians, followers of Jesus. They all came from a Jewish background, but they had all embraced Jesus as their Messiah.
Right Hearts, Right Facts, and the Conditions for Conflict
Now apparently, some of the Christians from a Hellenistic background believed that the widows among the Hebrew Christians received better care. Nothing suggests that the oversight was on purpose. It was a case of some being neglected, an oversight, or the result of bad organization. Satan loves to use an unintentional wrong to begin a conflict.
The Hebrews were right in their hearts, and the Hellenists were right in their facts. These were perfect conditions for a church-splitting conflict. But how would the church handle this? The rest of Acts 6 will explain.
Walking Through Divisive Seasons
But learn this. When today's church faces division, God's people have been there before, and God's Word gives us the wisdom to walk through divisive seasons in a way that will give Him the glory. We may not take that wisdom, but God offers it to us.
Start by believing the best of your brothers and sisters and realizing that a lot of the hurts that we inflict and we endure aren't intentional, yet they still need to be dealt with. God giving us wisdom in Jesus' name, we'll see a more unified people of God giving honor to Jesus, and we'll see more of it even today.