As a community of believers, we are only stronger as we study, pray, and talk together. Other people's words can often help us understand more fully and more clearly things that we thought we knew quite well.
That's why I look forward to these posts when some of you consider questions and leave answers in your comments. It's awesome!
As usual, I will post two questions . . . you are welcome to choose one, or to answer both!
1. How can we know which doctrines are worth "dividing" over, and which ones should be set aside to preserve unity?
2. Since Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (and his servants as servants of righteousness), how can we be on guard against his servants in the church or small group?
I look forward to reading your answers and learning!
Which doctrines are worth dividing over would be those that are central to God’s character, His Word and His plan of salvation. The five “Solas” or “Alones” are a baseline for that. Grace alone, faith alone, Christ alone, Scripture alone, Glory of God alone. So if someone wants to add personal works to the grace alone or faith alone part, that is worth dividing over. If someone wants to add something else to Christ alone, whether it be saints or Mary or ancestors, that is worth dividing over. If someone wants to add to or take away from Scripture, that is worth dividing over. And if anyone wants to do anything that takes the glory from God and gives it elsewhere, same thing. The secondary issues that are not central to God’s plan of salvation such as baptism, ideas about the end times, music styles can all be set aside
ReplyDeleteWe experienced an episode of Satan trying to infiltrate and destroy our new church not long ago. A member trying to undermine the leadership of the elders with criticism. The elders approached it in a scriptural way using the guidelines provided and thus prevented it from taking root and causing great harm. The member resigned. But that is how it often starts, with a whispering campaign against someone in the church, usually the leadership. As members of the church we need to be ever vigilant and to stop those whispering campaigns or gossip as soon as they begin. We can’t just let it go or ignore it because it is the spark that eventually leads to a blazing inferno that can consume and split a church.
Well said, Cathy!
DeleteReally difficult questions to answer! For the first I believe that anything that takes away from the basic gospel message (or adds to it!) could be considered damaging and possibly one should take a stand on. For example, if a preacher comes into the church and says that you can only be truly saved if you are baptised by full emersion, I would say sorry mate, what about the thief on the cross? If that is something to leave a church over, maybe not, but it would be indicative of a particular attitude which does not bode well. And it is possible that it would also be a way that satan posing as an angel of light would come into the church. Most people would recognise a full frontal onslaught, but subtlety he is very good at. He also loves us to be at each other's throats over inconsequentials, like whether to use matzos or bread for communion! I believe it's only as each person reads and studies the Word and prays diligently , with an attitude of wanting to learn in humility that we can get close to God and each other.
ReplyDelete"Little foxes"(song of Solomon) can do a great deal of damage and we should be aware of that fact before too mauch damage is done. I am preaching to myself here!!!
You've given us a lot to think about lol!