CHURCH STRIFE

In Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, there are named two ladies who could not get along with each other, Euodia and Syntyche (or, as it has been rendered, Odious and Soontouchy). They obviously had trouble working together. Then and now, the church is too often described in this little jingle:

To dwell above with saints we love,

O that will sure be glory.

But to dwell below with saints we know,

Well, that’s another story!191

The church filled with strife may do well to be reminded of Lord Nelson at Trafalgar who, coming on deck and finding two British officers quarreling, whirled them about and—pointing to the ships of their adversary—exclaimed, “Gentlemen, there are your enemies!”192