The Painful Conflicts.

JM Kraemer
May 27
2 min read

It seems almost everyday I log into social media. Either on the desktop or the phone I see so much division and conflict between Christians. Such things are way too heartbreaking to witness. Painful to see people descend into levels of venom and hatred that should have no real place given the current problems of society. While it is indeed human nature to disagree on elements of life. These constant back and forth battles I see play out are lessons in sorrow and frustration.

Even if we (Catholics and Protestants) tend to disagree on theological views as it relates to Christ. We should be more united in taking on the issues of the world. Following God’s commands to us that we should have an obligation to follow and honor. Yet many of us are more content spending our time fighting endless battles. Often times telling fellow believers they do not follow Christ. Or even worse, labeling people as heretics without just cause.

So why are we so heck bent on spending time fighting? The answer that I’ve seen is often times way more complex. Though some of it boils down to a level of pride. Some feel that they are not following Christ unless they are on the offensive. Being justified they are doing the Lord’s work by bashing, attacking, and bulling others into believing how they do. That is more or less a distraction for them. Because it’s easier to attack someone than to address the real issues troubling our society. Many of the keyboard warriors, I have found, have no desire to even leave the doors of their own church and go out into the neighborhoods to help the people in need. Content in the notion they are following Christ by doing very little in the way of actual work.

I know from past experience that disagreements will always take place between Christians. Easily seen because of human nature. However we live in an age where a lot of bad things are going on in our society. Violence, public drug abuse, decay in our cities. Neighborhoods becoming unsafe by the day. Not to mention the needs of those who are holding on to existing by only a few strands of hair.

A point needs to be reached when Christians need to put down the theological swords and decide that we need to do more to help society around us. Which cannot be done while engaging in endless fighting that never produces good fruit. While these division between Catholics and Protestants will always remain. We still have a chance to set aside our differences and try to do more for society. That is doing the Lord’s work. That should be more important to us. -