• Home
  • About This Blog
  • Contact Me
  • Subscribe
  • Comment Policy

Attempts at Honesty

Reflections on the interplay of the Bible and Culture

  • Westminster Shorter Catechism Series
  • Sermon on the Mount Series
Home Bible Reflection On division in the church

On division in the church

Posted on August 25, 2014 Written by Mark McIntyre 7 Comments


Discussion question: Do you think it is possible for churches to put aside their doctrinal differences and focus rather on what they share in common? Why or why not? Please add your thoughts in the comment section below.

DivisionIt appears that some churches feel the need to distinguish themselves from other churches, as if they are competing for members. I was once involved in a denomination that publishes a list of what they call distinctives to quantify how they are different. Yet I read in 1 Timothy:

“As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith. But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” (1 Timothy 1:3-5 NASB)

The point I take from these verses is that we need to exercise caution when deciding to make ourselves distinct from the churches around us. If we are to be distinct, it is to be in our commitment to preaching and living out the gospel, a distinction that we should be happy to observe in the other churches around us. Any other distinction brings division rather than unity.

Notice that Paul warns against myths and endless genealogies that give rise to speculation rather than building up the believers. Be careful of churches that have pet doctrines, especially if those doctrines have not been universally embraced by the church through the centuries. We do not need additional energy around bringing division in the church.

For example, 1 Thessalonians speaks of believers being caught up with Christ when he returns. Based on this verse, some churches have developed elaborate prophetic timelines to indicate how the events of the last days are going to play out.

It is one thing to have a personal opinion as to how all the prophecies fit together. It is entirely another thing to build a whole doctrinal platform on these types of speculations. Paul warns us about doing so. Rather than building elaborate theologies over which good men have disagreed, it would be so much more profitable to build on the fundamental truths of the Gospel.

When Scripture is vague about something, it is intentionally so. We believe that God has superintended the writing of Scripture and stands as the voice behind the prophecies. It then stands to reason that if is important to have a definitive understanding of a particular prophecy, God would have made it clear to us. If it is unclear, we must hold our interpretation of that prophecy loosely; we may find that we are wrong about it.

There is no doubt that Scripture predicts that Jesus Christ will return and set things right. Upon this all that consider themselves orthodox would agree. But, it is not clear as to how or when this will take place.

Can we stop dividing over speculative interpretations of Scripture? Can we agree that God has not clearly spelled out a timeline for the end? Can we focus upon what is clearly presented in Scripture and allow freedom on what is not?

This is one example. There are other issues such as Bible translation, women wearing pants, clothing styles and music that can bring out emotions bordering on hatred.

There are too many people who are put off by the denominational squabbles over non-essential doctrines. Efforts toward market differentiation should have no place in the Church.

Discussion question: Do you think it is possible for churches to put aside their doctrinal differences and focus rather on what they share in common? Why or why not? Please add your thoughts in the comment section below.


Filed Under: Bible Reflection

About Mark McIntyre

A follower of Jesus Christ who shares observations about how Scripture should impact the church and the world. Mark is the original author and editor of Attempts at Honesty.

Follow Attempts at Honesty

Honesty in your Inbox

Airplane

The law of unintended consequences

The church is to be intentional in her quest to make disciples. But a wrongheaded emphasis on short term gains might lead to an unintended consequence.

Communication

Miscommunication Hurts

This story illustrates that miscommunication carries a cost. Four Euros will be little missed in the grand scheme of things. But what about the cost associated with miscommunication, through words or actions, of the Gospel of Jesus?

Bulletin

PA Atheist Files Complaint Against Restaurant Over Church Bulletin Discount

Reaction to an article in the Christian Post about an atheist who complained about a restaurant offering a “church bulletin discount.”

Mercy

Muddy Waters, Mercy and the Fifth Beatitude

The fifth Beatitude tells us that those who are merciful will receive mercy. At first reading this sounds right to us. If you do good to others they will do good to you. It seem natural, like the popular concept of karma. Yet we see that this does not always hold true. How then should we understand this Beatitude?

War Horse

A lesson on the culture war from “War Horse”

Too often, we fight the culture war by digging a trench and lobbing arguments at the enemy trench. Better we meet between the trenches.

Post Series

  • Westminster Shorter Catechism Series
  • Sermon on the Mount Series
September 2023
SMTWTFS
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
« Jun    

Categories

Archives

Blogger Grid
Follow me on Blogarama

Copyright © 2023 · Focus Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in