Are we there yet?

Martin Luther wrote that "when there is no battle for the Gospel it rusts and it finds no cause and no occasion to show its vigor and power. Therefore, nothing better can befall the Gospel than that the world should fight it with force and cunning." 

The conflict that sometimes occurs when we witness for Christ can lead to an opportunity to glorify Him.

What does this mean for the church in America? It's quite simple. If we want to understand the power of the Holy Spirit in witnessing, we need to get out there and witness. If we want to understand what it means to function as the body of Christ, we need to endure the conflict that may come as a result of witnessing, together. Without the conflict, would the early church have fully realized the Holy Spirit's power and what it means to be the church?

Conflict was a gift. 

As a result of persecution, the early church witnessed more boldly and there was unity in the church…they learned [and experienced] the power of the Holy Spirit and how to function as the body of Christ among conflict. Like the early church, we don't seek conflict, but we don’t avoid witnessing just to avoid it.

(VOM)