During a recent conversation with a dear brother in Christ, the question was raised,"How can so many brethren, who are saved, Spirit-led, committed to studying and standing for the scriptures, come to so many different conclusions on points of doctrine, and be so divided over that doctrine?"
The answer is actually quite simple. Men and women who come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior often begin their walk with Christ by attending church, Sunday School, Bible studies and doing their own personal devotions. This practice leads to an increased knowledge of the Word of God, increased faith, and an increased desire to defend the faith and stand on the truth of God's Word.
While this is good for Christian growth and maturity, there is a downside. The sin nature within us, with which we will struggle until the day we are reunited with Christ (in person), often skews or hinders our understanding of the scriptures. Also, our lack of total knowledge of the cultural and situational context can often affect the way we interpret scripture. So, despite the Holy Spirit's helping us understand scriptures, our sinful minds often pick up the wrong message.
Couple this problem with the fact that many who get to this level of study see anything other than what they believe as false doctrine, and you see divisions arise out of the finer points of doctrine.
Some have even gone as far as to take Amos 3:3 out of context to justify breaking fellowship with other believers over minor doctrinal points. Amos 3:3, which says "Can two walk together except they be agreed?" is not dealing with fellowship between believers over doctrinal issues, but rather can Israel and God walk together seeing how Israel continually rebels against God? To relate this to our modern society, can God fellowship with unrepentant sinners? The answer is obviously no.
Now, when we discuss minor points of doctrine, we are discussing doctrines like the timing of the rapture (pre-, mid- or post-tribulation), the Bride of Christ, and if properly understood, even more controversial doctrines.
So, what should be the basis for fellowship among believers? Some give five basic doctrines that all believers must agree on, and others say that the ABA doctrinal statement should be the basis for fellowship. While that may be well and good, these are still man-made lists. What is God's standard for men to fellowship with each other?
1 John 1:7 says "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, then we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin."
To walk in the light means to conduct ourselves the way God has taught us to in the Bible. God expects us to live by faith, to make ourselves available for His service, and to love others. If we are doing that, and we know Jesus as our Savior, then we have sufficient grounds for fellowship. Notice that this standard applies to fellowship between individual believers.
The person who breaks fellowship with everyone who doesn't believe exactly like he does will eventually find himself in a lonely, bitter and angry world. Don't be that person. Live by faith, fellowship with other believers, and let your joy be full (1 John 1:4).
11 comments:
Ive never seen that Scripture verse (1 John) used in the discussion about fellowship/disagreement, but how helpful! Thank you!
Natasha,
Thanks for your comment. 1 John is rich with verses about our fellowship and love for one another, and how that love for each other is actually an indicator of our spiritual health. Our church recently studied 1 John, and I was very blessed by the series.
You never really to me fully defined what you perceive to be the basis for fellowship. At best it seems very broad. 1 John 1:7 seems to imply that whatever is clearly taught in Scripture should be our basis of fellowship. And you called the "21" a "man-made list." Yes, it obviously is NOT the Word of God, but do you see any point that is not clearly SCRIPTURAL? I understand being lenient toward newly saved people, else why would they need to be taught? But what about those such as preachers and those who have been taught and been in church for many years who reject the fundamental teachings of God's Word?
The ABA doctrinal statement is completely scriptural and Bible centered, but God did not set that as the basis of fellowship between two individual Christians. The line that God drew in 1 John 1:7 is that the fellowship should be based on their relationship with Christ and the fact that both are walking in the light.
Those who reject fundamental Bible teaching are probably not walking in the light.
However, I can fellowship with someone who doesn't believe in the timing of the rapture like I do, who understands creation differently from me, or who follows a different model of mission work than I do. The list goes on.
Bear in mind, we are talking about fellowship between individuals, not fellowship between churches or associations.
"Understands creation differently than me..." Explain. That leaves a LOT of room. Are we talking about Gap Theory or are we talking about day-age creation? "If we walk in the light (clearly revealed Biblical truth..." is a matter of fellowship with "one another." Where does the Bible make distinction between church fellowship and fellowship with individual Christians?
It's all about Jesus. If we can agree on Jesus and His gospel we can have fellowship. The rest is peripheral. Not one individual lives consistently according to the revealed truth of scripture (that's why we need grace). I'm sure that even within the ABA there are differences of interpretation with some scriptures.
There is a LOT more to fellowship than saying "I believe in Jesus." People of other religions will tell you that.
Johnathan, really? Let me be clear. When I say "agree on Jesus and His gospel," I am saying that we agree about Jesus as revealed in scripture as the only way to the Father. I'm not talking about an agreement regarding a vague intellectual consent to the historical Jesus, but a belief in King Jesus that effects salvation.
Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Rom 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
1Ti 1:20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.
2Ti 2:17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
2Ti 2:18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
My point is merely this. There are some people with whom we cannot have fellowship based on their doctrine. The Bible here at least shows Hymeneaus being one of these who was delivered over to Satan b/c of his doctrine that the resurrection is already past. So while timing of rapture my not be important, the fact that the resurrection is yet to come is important. Anything else removes the gospel of Jesus which includes the future resurrection and being with Him forever. I must say for certain that I can only fellowship with those who believe the same as me concerning salvation, baptism, and the future of the resurrection.
I would even go as far as to say I should only fellowship with those who have the "basics". The milk of the word in at the end of Hebrews 5 is described in Hebrews 6 as the following.
Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Heb 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Just wanted to clarify my comment. I believe the basics are important to agree upon b/c these are part of the purpose of the church. To win souls for Christ by teaching repentance from dead works, faith towards God, baptisms, approval, resurrection, and eternal judgment. If someone is teaching contrary to these, then we aren't trying to build the same kind of work.
You (the reader) and I cannot build a car together if we don't agree what kind of car we are building. I think that's the essence of "can two walk together lest they be agreed?" We can't both walk to the Family Dollar together if we don't agree which route we will take. We can't build a church together if we don't agree what we are building.
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