Acts 6 | The Anatomy of Dissension

Dissenters will always be with us. Sometimes they are in our homes, our work, our nation, and even (sadly) in the church.

If we are not careful, the whole ministry of a church can be consumed and hijacked by the sideways energy that dissenters create in the church. It is Satan’s greatest ploy and delight to create such diversions. Notice how dissenters and contention people plagued the first church.

1.They rise up and argue

vs. 9 "they rose up and argued with Stephen"

Remember that there are not many men godlier in the New Testament than Stephen. He was a man "full of the Spirit and wisdom," "full of grace and power," who his dissenters were "unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit" with which he was speaking. Yet he was still the object of contention.

2. They moved in secret

"Then they secretly induced men to say" (vs. 11)

3. They stirred up others

"and they stirred up the people" (vs. 12)

4. They were unafraid to use deception

"they put forward false witnesses who said"( vs. 13)

5. They attack God's men

"This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law” (vs. 13)

6. They do their wickedness in the guise of spirituality

"This man speaks against this holy place and the Law” (vs. 13)

7. They hate the loss of their kingdoms and the status quo

"we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus will destroy this place and alter the customs." (vs. 14)

Satan doesn’t have to be creative. He just sows a few tares among the wheat. They are fine and undisturbed with nominal Christianity. But when a leader challenges them to walk sacrificially with the Lord and move at the Holy Spirit’s initiation and the directives of Scripture, they can become destructive and deadly. The usual reason is that they have not bent the knee to the Lordship of Christ.

Father, give us wise, godly leaders to lead our homes, our businesses, and our churches and gracious, loving people to serve the body of Christ. May such humble holiness be used to show a watching world the beauty of Christ.