Family Feud

Hold on now, I just saw some friendly fire
Tactics that we don't require
Our aim is off and yet we still conspire
Focused on the words of a liar, whose time is short and soon to expire

So please, lay down your weapons
See, it's less about our intentions and more about our misconceptions
It depends on what our perception is
Ethereal or material, deception lives

For the more gossip gives, good times to the guilty
However, I'm not sure that's the way to go
Talking about so-and-so, so-and-so strife and so they know
Everybody's business like TMZ or Wendy's show

There's drama galore, but please leave love at the door
You came to serve and then forgot who you're serving for
Is it a latent desire to acquire power you ignore
It's like this brother told me before

Bureaucracy and bickering make for beautiful decor
And yet, we have an enemy
But wait, there's more
At home with your spouse
Misunderstandings and emotions bubble over during conflict

And clear communication becomes a chore
It must be their fault because you know it's not yours
Same thing in traffic or in everyday human interpersonal transactions
We seem to be at war

But what kind
It's like watching a foreign movie without captions
Limited, we process only what we can see
Which leads to the inaccurate conclusions or ill-conceived abstractions upon which we

Agree
And yet, we have an enemy
We must not forget, not unlike the inexperienced and eager cadet, who it is we are to fight
Now one might argue that church folk are preoccupied with feuding

First and foremost with the family, each other
Nurturing enmity, holding grudges to extreme lengths of insanity
And especially that there is a tendency to zealously judge one another mentally as well
As verbally

As if we don't all owe the same debt
And yet, all the while, we have an enemy
Enter the church volunteer
I did not get that email

What's this last minute detail
What's the matter with you
They don't operate like this in business or retail
Wait, why do you have keys and a code to the printer

Please, I've been here longer than you
You
You're more like one of those absolute beginners
I'm third generation, inherited my salvation

I mean, I don't even have to try
Why
Why was she a red lobster
He watching that movie, huh

Why doesn't the pastor work faster to make more time for me
Why doesn't he see that when they say we disagree, it's my side he should believe
Clearly, he's tripping
Well, I tried

Might as well give up and neglect my position
Campaign for conflict and dig up dissent
Call the conference and then go wherever I want
It doesn't matter if I was sent

You
You need to repent
Look what you got on
And why you want to sing that song

Sounds too much like ministry
You might as well just move along
And yet we still have an enemy
Exit the Pharisee

Now, I grew up in a church and have witnessed my share of foolishness in excess
We're worse than three roads at recess doing their best to transgress
And I confess, I've seen passive aggressive jabs and meetings talking behind their backs
Like heathens

Treasurers helping themselves to treason and church boards void of reason
Judges suing members in promiscuous fires starting from scantily clad embers
And then there's pride that deacon in line misplaced competition, fashion shows and selfish
Living

Attitudes collide, but in such a climate, how are guests or visitors to survive
Vanity's venom spreads like a virus through the community
Oh, what lack of unity, cussing each other out fluently, fueling the contention that
Exists between you and me

And yet we have an enemy
Who is this enemy
Well, he's petty, vile, sadistic and messy
Look in the mirror and say, it's not the person next to me

Enter our opponent, the devil, Lucifer and all his imbecile fallen angels
They coming at us from all angles, angry and ready to strangle our connection to the creator
He started off smarter, is invisible and has been at it since before Adam
Imagine what he knows

He's far from random, rather methodical, a phantom
And at this point is extremely efficient at deceiving humanity, not to mention Christianity
The devil comes to steal, kill and destroy
And I would argue, bring doubt

He plans to seed it and waits for it to sprout
However, he's running out of time, running out of spine, running his mouth and running
Out of lies
And so he recycles them

And yet we still don't recognize him as our enemy
Scripture warns us to be sober and watch out for our adversary as he paces back and forth
Looking for who he can devour
It sounds scary, but he's actually lame

Due to a lack of power, he operates by subterfuge, treachery and who he can manage to frame
Imagine it from his point of view, the definition of insane
He instigates some discord, sits back, laughs and whispers, I got you, with his iPhone on
Record

Now the devil can't make us do anything
It's not as if he's out here pulling strings
He merely advocates for the sins we already find most attractive
You know which ones

And waits for us to act up
It's better we back up
The fact is, it's kind of like if your back hurts and a supermodel asks if you'd like
A back rub

He flirts and we let him in
And then we let him win
Tell me, who here wants to be a slave to sin
Don't get me wrong, this doesn't negate personal responsibility

I only bring it up because there's much more at work than what we can see, even with a
PhD
And yes, he is the enemy
I'd ask us to check our weaponry

We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers and wickedness
In high places
But by God's graces, the Bible points out that we are not ignorant of the devil's devices
He cheerleads for crisis and seeks to valorize our vices

That's why it's important to know who Christ is and who we are in him
In other words, we have the ability to win
Triumph over Satan, cynicism, other people's shortcomings and sin
Although you already know it, it's still critical that you hear it

Love, longsuffering and kindness are fundamental fruits of the Spirit
Therefore, it is not accidental that the love we show each other is central to how the world
Will see Jesus through us
Trust, in order for the Lord to add to the church daily, being on one accord is a must

Not a maybe
And so finally, what about this enemy
Well, let me see
If we remember and realize who we are up against, it might make it easier to love one another

Even when it doesn't make sense
Easier to help one another without weaving waywardly through pretense
Easier to mature and uncover what's behind the offense
And hence, help our witness, enhance our capacity for forgiveness and stop people from leaving

Or just not coming to service
Journey with me beneath the surface and through the eye of a needle
Now, in all my research at the church, I haven't found out what God would do if it wasn't for
Loving difficult people in spite of themselves, like me and like you

When we begin to discern family disputes spiritually, we'd be more inclined to see that we do indeed
Have an enemy
And yet beloved, we also have the victory