What hill to die on? 6

This brings me to one more thought from a few texts . . . it is a labor of sanctification to focus on the main thing and it is only in agreement on the main thing that we can have unity.  The main thing is the Gospel. The Gospel is where we draw the line in the sand first of all. 

Here are the passages:

When Paul exhorted the Corinthians to be of one mind (1 Cor 1:8-15), he did not mean that they should agree about everything.   When he spoke of the Romans (15:5) being of one mind, he meant that they would be in agreement on the Gospel even when they differed on various other points.

I find this very difficult.  My heart is tempted to pride and I tend to view those who disagree with me as in need of persuasion.  They simply don't get it and at best it is because they are ignorant.  So I will enlighten them!  I quickly move from the Gospel to secondary matters and quickly define those other matters as a slippery slope.  Paul speaks of that pride in both Corinthians and Romans -- the temptation to judge or despise, or to form our identity around a secondary matter (Paul or Apollos or abstaining or observing). 

My previous post gave the criteria for what I mean by Gospel clarity -- not the repeating of a mantra, but a substantive presentation of the Gospel.  It is agreement on the "rule of faith" that has always been the basis of determining who is our brother and how we treat them.  Yet, ugliness has been all too common among members of the family and that ugliness is a matter of sin and not a matter of truth.  We tend to take up unholy weapons in fighting holy wars.

Please note: It is not that we should be so naive as to think that we can all get along and be in the same church despite our differences.  I for one chose not to pursue ordination in a paedobaptist communion because I simply could not buy the argument.  I cannot imagine practicing both in one church without creating confusion -- so I respect my paedobaptist brothers and work in a different church from them. 

We dare not violate conscience or conviction out of supposed "unity" -- some convictions cannot work together.  Thus it is good to advocate sovereign grace, believer's baptism, gender roles, our particular conclusions about the end of the age, the continuation of the gifts.  But we do so remembering where the life and death issue is: the Gospel. We do so with humility. 

Francis Schaeffer wrote The Mark of the Christian, calling God's people to show love to other believers even when we differ.  Schaeffer had lived through one of the meanest fights in denominational history -- and it almost drove him to unbelief.  We are not to act as though we do not differ, but we are to show honor to each other as fellow grace recipients through Christ. 

Here is how I think we disagree in a way that honors the Gospel:

1. Be quick to remember that this person is one with whom I will share in eternal glory around the Lamb.
2. Review with them the foundation of our salvation -- and review it in detail -- the stunning grace of God through Christ's death to undeserving sinners. Maybe spend some time reviewing how you each appreciate grace and what new ways it has melted your heart.
3. Be quick to hear their position and make sure it is understood so well that they tell us we are stating it fairly.  I like to begin my rebuttal while they are speaking -- that is a mark of pride. There is also a terrible fruit of pride -- false stereotypes, generalizations, and extreme examples.
4. Go to Scripture.  How quickly we set aside our Bibles and simply talk theology with each other.  Open the text!  Walk through the text.
5. Watch against uncharitable judgments of their motives, education, consistency, etc.
6. Perhaps agree to disagree -- but go to learn as well as to make a point. 

End with a reminder of the undeserved grace of God to sinners such as we -- and rejoice that some day we will all agree.

Then, stand for your convictions and argue your case -- this is not a call to wimpiness -- but it is a call to remember who are enemies are and who are are friends.

Comments

[david poe]

Mark - thank you for this series. The series came to mind last night when my son graciously asked me to remember that the discussion we were having at the time was not about winning a debate, but about coming to a better knowledge of our Savior. How quickly I want to die on molehills when my pride and honor are at stake. Thanks, DP

[michael]

Very timely, Mark. This whole series has been a blessing.