Abrasiveness

Doing the Lord’s will, telling others that will, can sometimes make us seem abrasive to others and bring about social consequences.

• Exodus 5:15-21 HCSB So the Israelite foremen went in and cried for help to Pharaoh: "Why are you treating your servants this way? 16 No straw has been given to your servants, yet they say to us, 'Make bricks!' Look, your servants are being beaten, but it is your own people who are at fault." 17 But he said, "You are slackers. Slackers! That is why you are saying, 'Let us go sacrifice to the LORD.' 18 Now get to work. No straw will be given to you, but you must produce the same quantity of bricks." 19 The Israelite foremen saw that they were in trouble when they were told, "You cannot reduce your daily quota of bricks." 20 When they left Pharaoh, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who stood waiting to meet them. 21 "May the LORD take note of you and judge," they said to them, "because you have made us reek in front of Pharaoh and his officials--putting a sword in their hand to kill us!"
• Galatians 4:16 HCSB Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

We should try, as much as possible, to limit this abrasiveness.

• Acts 24:16 HCSB I always do my best to have a clear conscience toward God and men.
• Romans 12:18 HCSB If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone.
• Romans 15:2 HCSB Each one of us must please his neighbor for his good, in order to build him up.
• 1 Corinthians 8:12-13 HCSB Now when you sin like this against the brothers and wound their weak conscience, you are sinning against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to fall, I will never again eat meat, so that I won't cause my brother to fall.
• 1 Corinthians 9:22 HCSB To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some.
• 1 Corinthians 10:32-33 HCSB Give no offense to the Jews or the Greeks or the church of God, 33 just as I also try to please all people in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
• 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 HCSB Love is patient; love is kind. Love does not envy; is not boastful; is not conceited; 5 does not act improperly; is not selfish; is not provoked; does not keep a record of wrongs;
• 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 HCSB Now we ask you, brothers, to give recognition to those who labor among you and lead you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
• Hebrews 12:14-15 HCSB Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness--without it no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and by it, defiling many.

That attempt should be balanced, however, by our desire to please God first and foremost.

• Galatians 1:10 HCSB For am I now trying to win the favor of people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ.

Abrasive, divisive behavior can disrupt the proper functioning of a church, a family or a business. We are not to imitate such behavior. We are to draw attention to it and deal with it, keeping in mind both the good of the group and the individual.

• 3 John 1:9-11 HCSB I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have first place among them, does not receive us. 10 This is why, if I come, I will remind him of the works he is doing, slandering us with malicious words. And he is not satisfied with that! He not only refuses to welcome the brothers himself, but he even stops those who want to do so and expels them from the church. 11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.

If you encounter a person who is consistently abrasive and contentious, you should not hang out with them. Have no more to do with them lest you become like them or be led into sin by your frustration.

• Romans 16:17-18 HCSB Now I implore you, brothers, watch out for those who cause dissensions and pitfalls contrary to the doctrine you have learned. Avoid them; 18 for such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.
• Titus 3:9-11 HCSB But avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning, 11 knowing that such a person is perverted and sins, being self-condemned.
• 2 John 1:10-11 HCSB If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home, and don't say, "Welcome," to him; 11 for the one who says, "Welcome," to him shares in his evil works.