Are You for the Church or Against It? (1)

“While Joshua was near Jericho, he suddenly saw a man standing in front of him, holding a sword. Joshua went up to him and asked, ‘Are you one of our soldiers, or an enemy?'” — Joshua 5:13 (GNT)

In our opening text, we see an interesting moment where Joshua encounters a man standing before him with a sword. His question was direct yet necessary: “Are you for us or against us?” He needed to be sure of the man’s intentions.

As believers, we must ask ourselves a similar question from time to time—it helps us examine where we truly stand in the body of Christ. Today, many believers actively and passionately speak against the church without realizing it. They make divisive statements, post content that ridicules the church, and engage in controversial discussions that weaken the faith of others. While they may believe they are addressing issues within the church, they often end up doing more harm than good.

This is not to say that the church is without challenges or that mistakes are not made. However, there is a right way to handle such matters—one that builds rather than destroys. Over the years, many have unknowingly positioned themselves as enemies of the body of Christ, much like Saul before his encounter with Jesus. Saul believed he was fighting for God, but in reality, he was fighting against Him. The Bible says:

“Saul kept up his violent threats of murder against the followers of the Lord. He went to the High Priest and asked for letters of introduction to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he should find there any followers of the Way of the Lord, he would be able to arrest them, both men and women, and bring them back to Jerusalem.” — Acts 9:1-2 (GNT)

It was in the midst of this mission that Saul encountered Jesus, and everything changed.

Become mindful of what you say and do concerning the body of Christ. Our Lord Jesus said: “Anyone who is not for me is really against me; anyone who does not help me gather is really scattering.” — Luke 11:23 (GNT).

Did you catch that? Make a conscious decision to be a builder in God’s kingdom, not one who scatters what He has gathered. Hallelujah!

Today’s Rhema

As you walk with God, ensure that you are gathering with Him and not scattering.

Confession for the Day

My Lord and my God, I repent of any words, actions, or attitudes that have put me in the wrong position concerning Your church. Today, I choose to stand for the body of Christ, to build and not tear down. I declare that I am a vessel for unity and edification in Jesus’ name. Amen!