Posted on 04/17/2008 11:43:27 AM PDT by alpha-8-25-02
By Sam Crabtree July 6, 1999
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This is of course a trick question, though not tricky. Paul's instructions are plain that we are to pursue both unity and doctrine. Further, pursuing both at the same time will be one indication that growth is occurring. "...till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men..." (Eph 4:13-14).
Some see doctrine as divisive, discordant, and disagreeable. Others see the avoidance of doctrinal clarity as the slippery slope to the church's undoing. So how can Christians grow in unity without compromising the church's foundations for unity, and yet simultaneously press for clarity in doctrine without becoming quarrelsome?
One way is by contending in love; that is, standing for truth in the face of error. "...but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head - Christ..." (Eph 4:15). People who grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ are the same ones becoming increasingly ready apologists for God's truth in order to graciously benefit God's people, balancing courageous firmness with tender love. One need not be a busybody nor a burdensome crank in order to correct someone for their sake. This is what Paul did in corresponding with the Galatians and Ephesians. He contended, but without being contentious. He fought the canker of seductive deception but not cantankerously. His was an attitude of pastoral contention, battling for doctrinal essentials but for the sake of the people in beholding God's glory. There is a holy tenacity that defends truth, even at great personal risk.
Such contending for truth is pivotal if the aim of evangelism and missions is worship. Worship presupposes knowledge. To worship God in truth is to approach him on the basis of his self-disclosure. To get a wrong answer to the question "What is God like?" is to go down a path of ignorance or superstition or idolatry. Because "deficient worship displeases God" [J.I. Packer, Knowing Christianity, p. 142], worship must be rigorously informed by revelation. "Untruth pollutes and disqualifies worship" [Bruce Leafblad, in a seminar on worship renewal at the 1999 BGC annual meeting]. There will be little unity in corporate worship if we sweep away precision in understanding just which God it is we are worshipping.
"The increasing abandonment of truth and moral absolutes in our culture, as militant diversity threatens all firm conviction, has dramatically influenced the evangelical mindset. The political spin doctors who specialize in deflecting attention away from truth onto feelings and relationships and styles have their counterpart in the evangelical tendency to avoid doctrinal disputes by casting issues in terms of demeanor and method rather than truth. Serious disagreements are covered over, while vague language and pragmatic concerns preserve hollow unity at the expense of theological substance and Biblical clarity and power." (John Piper, God's Passion for His Glory, p.24)
The way to keep the second commandment (love your neighbor as yourself) is not by abandoning the first commandment (love God without reserve). Clarity on important things (i.e., God) is a means to unity. People who cherish the same truths find themselves unified, seemingly without effort. That's why we throw ourselves into things like Sunday School, small group Bible study, Fighter Verse scripture memory, courses offered as part of The Bethlehem Institute, biblical preaching, and rigorous personal Bible meditation - for unity and doctrine... and maturity.
Desiring truth and love with you,
Sam Crabtree
Executive Pastor, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis
Mature Christians pursue a deeper and more profound relationship with God.
DEAR SAINTS,
AS A TEACHER OF REFORMED DOCTRINE AND REFORMATION HISTORY I OFTEN HEAR THE CRY,”DOCTRINE DIVIDES”.
SOME HAVE TOLD MY PASTOR TO KEEP HIS SOVERIEGN GRACE ATTACK DOG CHAINED.
HOW HAVE YOU BEEN EFFECTED BY THESE ATTITUDES AND MORE SO HOW DO YOU AND YOUR COMMUNITY DEAL WITH IT?
THANKYOU IN ADVANCE!
5 SOLAS!
Mature Christians pursue Christ.
PLEASE TELL US HOW THEY DO THAT.
Less mature Christians bludgeon their fellow Christians with false-witness reformulations of those fellow Christians’ faith.
PLEASE SEE 5.
He probably will if you stop shouting.
Mature Christians grow more compassionate and more acutely aware of doctrine simultaneously. SOME churches these days try to take only one (welcome homosexual behavior) while throwing out the other. Love exists with holiness and righteousness, and sinners deserve and need to be told the truth lovingly.
Or, (1) Love God; (2) Love your neighbor.
More prayer, less shouting.
Exhale.
Gidday Alpha!
> AS A TEACHER OF REFORMED DOCTRINE AND REFORMATION HISTORY I OFTEN HEAR THE CRY,”DOCTRINE DIVIDES”.
It does indeed divide.
> SOME HAVE TOLD MY PASTOR TO KEEP HIS SOVERIEGN GRACE ATTACK DOG CHAINED.
By this I interpret that some folk would prefer not to argue the finer points of doctrine at the expense of maintaining civility. True?
> HOW HAVE YOU BEEN EFFECTED BY THESE ATTITUDES AND MORE SO HOW DO YOU AND YOUR COMMUNITY DEAL WITH IT?
Speaking personally, I really dislike it when people get stuck into “taxing the mint and cumin” of the Gospel, while ignoring the weightier matters. Christ set this example when chastising the Pharisees and hypocrites.
We see it often here, on FRee Repbulic threads. A religious matter is posted to be discussed, and the subject gets hijacked by some doctrine-waving bigot whose only objective seems to be to attack people who believe differently, and thus prove himself more “worthy” than the poor sorry sods who set up the thread.. It’s sick, really.
It’s rather like being awoken by the Jehovah Witnesses early on a Saturday morning and being unable to get them off your property until well into Sunday afternoon, long after The Rugby has kicked off. (Naturally this can only ever happen when the Dog is at the kennels for breeding, but you know what I mean).
Doctrine does indeed divide: sadly it seldom unifies. Luckily, we are not judged by our understanding of doctrine, but by our practise thereof. Doctrine is only there to govern the way a true Christian behaves, because it is by our works that our Faith is demonstrated — so says St Paul.
God is not going to give us a multi-choice quiz on Judgment Day. He is, instead, going to see if our Hearts and Character reflect the example set by Our Lord, an whether we have practised the principles of what He preached. Our knowledge of Doctrine will matter for little if we have not applied it.
i am not shouting,i type with one finger because i am disabled.
Which Christ?
"compassion" and "charity" aren't the same thing. I'm not even sure that welcoming homosexual behavior qualifies as compassion. I'm quite certain that it's not authentic charity.
The one who will judge you on the last day.
Sorry to hear of your disability, God’s peace be with you.
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