Walking on a mid spring morning. The temperature is slowing rising. The sun is steadily lifting higher and higher. Nature is singing. The birds are harmonizing with the frogs. The squirrels ruffling through the fallen leaves and the trickling of the stream lapping over the rocks as it tumbles downward all participate in nature’s melody. Yes, a walk in the woods can be quite the experience.
One of my favorite activities on the weekends is to trek the battlefields and trails. It just happens that I live between several of the national parks, but this Sunday morning, I was treading upon one of the major fighting points in the entire U.S. Civil War, Manassas, Virginia. In fact, Manassas had two distinctive battles on it about thirteen months apart. The first was conducted in July of 1861 and the second was August of 1862.
A war that many in the north thought would be stamped down without much effort or amusement. It was almost is if they believed if they just showed up in numbers that would sway the ways of the opposition. It wasn’t a clear enemy to them, because much of those facing off against one another on the filed of battle, were friends, family, and classmates. It wasn’t some foreign invader, it was a brother.
Certain members of the northern leadership would not address them as an enemy, but merely a lost prodigal son that needed to come home. The desire was to stop the divisiveness and hatred and to come back in unity with the other members of the “United States of America”. That desire was not an easy one. In fact, it took the lives of around 500,000 men and 4 years to stop the fissure.
Today, this is the state of the American church and most likely the church in general. There are lines drawn for a multitude of reasons: race, sex, beliefs, understandings, culture, nationality, finances, and more. If a line of division can be constructed to differentiate between us and them or you and me, then it happens faster than rabbits mate. And then come the stones!
Jesus once admonished those who were quick to judge, “you who are without sin, go ahead and throw the first stone (John 8:7).” Yet not a single accuser dared to do so. But that doesn’t seem to stop us today, because “I am free to speak my mind.” Sure, for now. Yet, in case you aren’t awake yet, the world itself is in a great divide. What has been named the “great reset versus the great awakening” is actually a thing!
But you can’t even imagine it! Because God will save me from this wretched place. Yes, I am his champion soothsayer, or word of Fatih, or scripture interpreter, or something else. I am worthy of missing out on what is coming. And you may be right… just not in the way you are thinking.
In the battle of Manassas, the fighting got intense. Especially, at one point of the second battle in August of 1862, in the section known as the “Deep Cut”. The fighting was close and heavy. Bullets and cannon fodder was preeminent in the battle. The brothers were on opposite sides of the deep cut, each one separated by an elevated mound of dirt, what could be called a ridge. It was a swath of land built to accommodate the future expansion of the railroad prior to the war breaking out. Now it served as the line of demarcation for the southern rebels and the northern yankees.
The battle surged on for more than 2o minutes in this particular area. Soldiers were dropping like flies to the ground. The whistling artillery was consistent and impactful, it left those alive to scrounge through the fallen ones for any supplies to keep the fight going. And the groups were isolated during this confrontation.
As the battle drew on the soldiers of the south had nothing left to fight with, and a bayonet charge wasn’t likely at this point. So they felt around the unfinished railroad and assembled some rocks, then began throwing them across the deep cut at the union army. The Union responded by throwing the rocks back. And in the middle of battle the warfare degraded to an exchange of rock thrown for a short period of time.
This quick and short lived exchange ended once the rebel soldiers were reenforced, but a legend was born!
For one reason or another the Civil War did culminate in a field house in Appomattox, Virginia with General Lee surrendering his army to General Grant. Then the healing began. Heroes went home and the land was once again unified. The Northern Army gave a shout at the news of the surrender from General Lee. A bit of hoot and holler, but General Grant gave orders to seize out of respect for their brothers. Yet if they had not cheered at such a joyous occasion, I would charge the rocks would have cried out, Luke 19:30.
So I offer caution to you, me, and all who would read this… the infighting must seize. The church does not have to be on the same understanding with every morsel or crumb thrown its way. In my opinion, if we agree on Jesus and his birth, life, death, resurrection, and gift of the Holy Spirit then we have all we need. Anything else God will instruct upon. Just as He said in John 14, “the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things (26).”
There is an outpouring coming upon the earth. The likes of which has not been since Pentecost Sunday. God is preparing us for His move. Are we to be in the way and hinder such a move? Rocks thrown will not be my report. I hope it won’t be yours either. There is an enemy and it isn’t in His church, His true church. If a brother or sister in the Lord offends you, you should go to them and not mock them online or on social media. Grow up! Realize the real enemy is using these tactics to delay the work of the Lord you have and what others have.
Today, give heed to Holy Spirit, and allow forgiveness to take place. Let His love flow. If we do not respond appropriately, we will be removed from what is coming. Micah hints to what that is…!
Godspeed, The Journeyman
Ps. As God draws you in and you respond, do so with a thankful heart. Don’t let another harden it. It is your’s to give and take away. He is looking for those who will answer His call… Isaiah said, Here am I Lord, Send me (6:8)! If you are warring with your brother how can you be sent.
Luke 19: 30 KJV “I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.”
John 8:7 KJV “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”
John 14: 26 KJV “…the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”