by Bob Beanblossom
24 April 2017
It seems to me that sometimes we get chained down in a position that we can’t support, trapped before we even know it. This happens when we start following men (or women) instead of God: we hang our religion on partially or wholly unsubstantiated doctrine or dogma; it often sounds good, and makes sense, but . .
There are great ongoing debates about all sorts of issues within the Christian faith–often dividing those who should not be divided. The Scripture is not as clear about some issues as we would like. This leads legitimately to differing opinions. We often hear that “we stand together on the main issues, but agree to disagree on others;” all the while standing separate, divided, sometimes to the point of declaring that “our” way is the only way: “then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another” (Matthew 24:10). While we are busy “not” arguing among ourselves, lost souls are dying: “How can ye believe, which receive honor one from another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only? (John 5:44). Satan has succeeded in distracting us from our Great Commission, and enticed us to offend some needlessly. Paul taught, “I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some (1 Corinthians 9:22b). Paul held fast the essentials while not getting hung up in the unknowns or in non-essential issues.
Different–conflicting–understandings are not new. The Epistles, those letters to various workers and churches in the first century, were mostly about actively divisive issues–those Christians were no more perfect (nor less so) than we are. The inspired men who wrote the New Testament always wrote to heal, to bring together under the Word, and not to further divide: “This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent” (John 6:29). All issues are not clear. We might prefer a rule book, another set of Commandments chiseled in stone. The problem is, that approach didn’t work. Man could not (and cannot) live up to God’s standards.
He has given us given a new approach , an era of living within and under God’s grace: that amazing, unmerited gift of salvation made possible only and completely through the sacrificial and atoning death and resurrection of Jesus Christ on the cross: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: is its the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8). That same grace sustains us in our Christian walk–to the extent that we allow. There is no limit to His grace, the limit is wholly within us when we fail to act by faith in concert with His will: “for whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Rom 14:23). We fail when we substitute me-me-me for the great I AM.
Now, back to those differences: either Scripture is the primary authority, or whatever exists is simply not Christianity. Some things, such as the doctrines of sin and salvation, are pretty easy to understand, even if not to accept. Others are much more difficult, with the scripture itself making understanding difficult. Here we must remember that we, in our finite beings, cannot fully understand an infinite God: faith is the word given to our submitting our understanding to Him. Given His authorship, these difficulties are no reason for division, for following paths of opinion rather than Scripture. This is in no way intended to discount the value–even necessity–of doctrine derived from the theological study of Scripture by prayerful, God-loving Christians. These will humbly admit and note their shortcomings and questions as they attempt to clarify and organize the Word that we may find it more understandable and applicable to our lives.
Paul, correcting the Corinthian church, admonished: “you saith, I am of Paul; and I am of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? (I Corinthians 1:12-13): insert your own favorite religious authority here. We must be ever cautious that we are following Christ and the clear word of Scripture, not unsupported doctrinal statements of a church or individual. Some things we just won’t be able understand until our “faith is made sight,” that is, until we see Jesus face-to-face. That’s ok. He wrote the Book. He made us. He understands our weaknesses. In turn, we did not write the Book and cannot fill in the blanks; we did not create Him and should not attempt to explain what He did not; and lastly, the weakness is within us, not Him. “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4).