SHALL THE SWORD DEVOUR FOREVER

Our work as preachers is not just to "baptize aliens and capsize sectarians" as Daniel Sommer would say. God has assigned us the task to preach the whole counsel of God and so to produce disciples - students of Jesus - who are committed, godly, sacrificing saints (in the Bible meaning of saints). Some would rather fight, if not the enemy, fight each other. R.D.Ice

But first some history. 50 years ago a battle was held among the Churches of Christ over supporting orphan's homes and the Herald of Truth TV program. Debates were held in Parkersburg, Columbus, and other places. Those who opposed orphan's homes called themselves "non-institutional" and called those who did support them "institutional." The "non-insitutional churches" established separate publications, called on only certain preachers for meetings, and both sides continued on their separate ways. I attach an article from a church bulletin in Kansas which is "non-institutional" in their thinking.



“SHALL THE SWORD DEVOUR FOREVER?”
David was now the official king of Israel. However,
Abner, the captain of Saul’s forces, was not in submission to
David. He assisted in the establishment of Saul’s son
Ishbosheth as king over all but the house of Judah. “But Abner
the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s host, took Ishbosheth the son
of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; and made him
king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel,
and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.
Ishbosheth Saul’s son was forty years old when he began to
reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of
Judah followed David” (II Sam. 2:8-10).

The division was strong between the two groups. Fighting
would occur from time to time between David’s forces and the
forces of Ishbosheth. II Samuel 2:12-17 records one of the
battles. Joab, David’s captain, met Abner, the commander of
Israel in Gibeon, “And there was a very sore battle that day;
and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the
servants of David” (II Sam. 2:17).

That day Abner fled from the field of battle. A man by the
name of Asahel pursued after him. Three times Abner warned
this young man to cease his pursuit. Three times Asahel defied
the warning. Ultimately, Abner smote and killed the young
Asahel: “...wherefore Abner with the end of the spear smote
him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him,
and he fell down there, and died in the same place...” (II Sam.
2:23).

This death was grievous for Joab, for Asahel was his
brother. Therefore, Joab and his brother Abishai pursued after
Abner to destroy him (II Sam. 2:24). When they found Abner,
his troops from Benjamin were gathered as one troop with
their commander. It seems as if more bloodshed was
inevitable.

It was at this point that Abner called out to Joab and
asked him a sobering question: “Then Abner called to Joab,
and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not
that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be
then, ere thou bid the people return from following their
brethren” (II Sam. 2:26)? Abner probably did not know the full
extent of the casualties of war at that time. He did know that
many had lost their lives. He also knew that both he and Joab
could lose their lives. Too, this battle could cause the sword to
continue to devour God’s people for many, many years. Thus,
he asked the question: “Shall the sword devour for ever?”

In 1977, this writer graduated from high school. At the
time, my interest in spiritual things increased greatly. Two
brotherhood lectureships were conducted in my home- town. I
sat at the feet of great men of God. These men stood very tall
in my eyes. Their proclamation of the Gospel impressed and
mesmerized this young Christian. It was a joy and a privilege
to hear the lessons they presented and to gain so much
knowledge and insight from these men who had studied the
word of God for years and who had labored diligently in the
kingdom of heaven.

Since that time, the sword has devoured many of these
good brethren. Today, they are split into so many groups that it
is impossible to number them all. It has gotten to the point that
one cannot move from one camp to another without being
inconsistent and without being alienated from good brethren
with whom there is no disagreement. It seems like it is time for
the army of God to stop and to give ear to the question asked
by Abner. “Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not
that it will be bitterness in the latter end?” A similar teaching
was expressed by Paul in his brief epistle to the churches of
Galatia. “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this;
Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself. But if ye bite and
devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of
another” (Gal. 5:14-15).

Joab, fortunately, gave heed to the inquiry of Abner. “And
Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then
in the morning the people had gone up every one from
following his brother. So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the
people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither
fought they any more” (II Sam. 2:27-28). That day the battle
ceased. The bloodshed ended. Innocent lives were spared.
Would that many of the preachers and leaders within the
church would have the disposition of Joab. Far too many
brethren are being alienated. Hatred and wrath fill the
pages of sermons, journals and lectureship books.
Brethren are growing weary of the fighting. The world is
dying in a lost condition. “Shall the sword devour
forever?”

This writer realizes that there are some issues that
cannot be compromised. Against these, we must stand
and fight the good fight of faith (I Tim. 6:12). He also
knows that some of the battles that have divided sound
brethren should not have reached their present magnitude.
Pride, stubbornness, and hatred have filled some hearts.
Good brethren have bitten and devoured one another. It
has almost reached the point that a preacher can only
serve within the local congregation. The moment he
ventures into other pulpits, he will be marked and avoided
by some. What a shame when brethren are so divided that
innocent, sound brethren get caught in the ungodly
crossfire of in-fighting. Paul’s words to the Corinthians
are most applicable today. “For ye are yet carnal: for
whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions,
are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one
saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye
not carnal” (I Cor. 3:3-4)?

“Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the
sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be
bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere
thou bid the people return from following their brethren”
(II Sarn. 2:26)? This is a question that needs to be asked
to conservative brethren within the churches of Christ
today. Sadly, some will boldly answer: “The sword will
never depart as far as we are concerned.” A bitter end and
much destruction will be the result of such an attitude.
This writer longs for the day when the Bible greats
among us can stand arm in arm proclaiming the saving
message to a lost world. It was that unity that encouraged
this writer to become a preacher of the Gospel. When that
unity exists once again, more youth will rise up to
become soldiers of the cross of Christ.

Victor M. Eskew from Seek The Old Paths