We are brothers and sisters in the Lord, it is not necessary to agree perfectly on ever single thing, except when it comes to the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, His purpose on this earth and our need to repent and trust Him. Those are crucial doctrines we must agree on.
So many things we disagree about are non-salvation issues and can be interpreted more than one way, they are not absolutely clear, even sometimes when we think they are, our views are often shaped... by our culture and things we were taught when we were new believers.
Luther never gave up his belief in infant baptism. Calvin believed that no one had a choice in their salvation. Other believe in the gap theory, no need for head covering, style of dress and whether or not a woman should work outside the home. There are things that are best based on the principles in the Bible but that do not determine our salvation.
NO ONE.....is believing things perfectly, there is need to be continually asking God for wisdom, throwing off things we have been taught that are in error and trusting what God really taught. We must be challenging one another to greater holiness and to seek God for everything.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken."
Hebrews 10:24 "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,"
Proverbs 27:17 "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another."
1 John 1:3 "That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ."
1 Peter 3:8 "Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind."
The Unity God commands us to have is not to manufacture human agreement just to get along, but rather to test all things, challenge each one in the word. Christ is our Unity and Truth, when there is a question, His Word is what we go to. What we do not do is allow error just to get alone with one another. If something is a non-salvation issue and we cannot come to an agreement, then we need to let it go while praying for one another.
So many things we disagree about are non-salvation issues and can be interpreted more than one way, they are not absolutely clear, even sometimes when we think they are, our views are often shaped... by our culture and things we were taught when we were new believers.
Luther never gave up his belief in infant baptism. Calvin believed that no one had a choice in their salvation. Other believe in the gap theory, no need for head covering, style of dress and whether or not a woman should work outside the home. There are things that are best based on the principles in the Bible but that do not determine our salvation.
NO ONE.....is believing things perfectly, there is need to be continually asking God for wisdom, throwing off things we have been taught that are in error and trusting what God really taught. We must be challenging one another to greater holiness and to seek God for everything.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken."
Hebrews 10:24 "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,"
Proverbs 27:17 "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another."
1 John 1:3 "That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ."
1 Peter 3:8 "Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind."
The Unity God commands us to have is not to manufacture human agreement just to get along, but rather to test all things, challenge each one in the word. Christ is our Unity and Truth, when there is a question, His Word is what we go to. What we do not do is allow error just to get alone with one another. If something is a non-salvation issue and we cannot come to an agreement, then we need to let it go while praying for one another.
No comments:
Post a Comment