Would you surrender your own beliefs in the cause of doctrinal unity?
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There is something good in wanting peace and kindness toward others. We should not be quick to reject or hate. But the question is deeper than that: what kind of unity does God ask for?
Let us ask simple questions, the way truth invites the heart to think. Did Jesus pray for many different beliefs, or for one truth? In John 17:17 (ASV) He said:
“Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth.”
And a few lines later in John 17:21 (ASV):
“that they may all be one…”
So what makes them one? Is it accepting all differences, or being set apart by truth? If two teachings disagree, can they both be true? Jesus said in Matthew 12:25 (ASV):
“Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation…”
So if believers are divided in teaching, is that the unity He spoke of? Did Jesus ever say doctrine does not matter?
In John 8:31 (ASV):
“If ye abide in my word, then are ye truly my disciples.”
So what happens if we do not abide in His word, but each follows his own belief? Can unity stand without truth? What did Jesus say about worship? In John 4:24 (ASV):
“They that worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
If truth is required, can we set it aside for the sake of getting along? What about false teaching? Should it be accepted for unity? Jesus warned in Matthew 7:15 (ASV):
“Beware of false prophets…”
If we are told to beware, how can we also accept all teachings as equal? And again, what is the result of ignoring truth? In Isaiah 5:20 (ASV):
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil…”
If we stop making distinctions, do we slowly lose the ability to see what is right? So then, what kind of unity should we seek? Is it a unity where everyone keeps their own beliefs, even if they conflict? Or is it a unity where all come back to the same foundation, the words of Christ?
Jesus did not ask us to surrender truth for peace. He called us to come into truth, and there find real unity. So the question is not, “Should we accept all differences?”
The real question is: Are we willing to let go of our own ideas if they do not match His word?
Are we seeking unity with people, or unity in truth?
Because one kind of unity feels easy, but does not last.
The other may be harder, but it stands firm, because it is built on what Jesus said, he is the cornerstone and the church has to be built on it and nothing else.
There is no consensus on what that means.
The question remains.
Would you surrender your own beliefs in the cause of doctrinal unity?
my belief is that the words of Christ stand alone. These are the words I follow, for me there is only one truth, Christ's, I will not listen to anyone else. Anything doctrine that deviated from what Jesus said I reject.
So No I would never surrender my beliefs.
Thank you. Neither would I.
This of course means that doctrinal unity will never happen. IMHO
Embracing Doctrinal Diversity - Unity in diversity
In the same way we have learned to understand and respect cultural diversity, we should learn to understand and respect doctrinal diversity. Can Catholics and Protestants respect one another despite our doctrinal differences? (yes) What about Baptists and Pentecostals? (yes) You name it. How...
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Aunty Jane
Well-Known Member
Is doctrinal unity what we can expect? Or just the opposite?Thank you. Neither would I.
This of course means that doctrinal unity will never happen. IMHO
Embracing Doctrinal Diversity - Unity in diversity
In the same way we have learned to understand and respect cultural diversity, we should learn to understand and respect doctrinal diversity. Can Catholics and Protestants respect one another despite our doctrinal differences? (yes) What about Baptists and Pentecostals? (yes) You name it. How...
We live in a world of “sheep and goats”....”wheat and weeds”......a choice of only two roads....
That means that there is one truth, held by the sheep, not the goats.....accepted by the wheat, but not the weeds....and it means standing at the narrow gate and contemplating the difficult road to life.....as opposed to the easy road to death. The choice is ours. (Matt 7:13-14) We already know that the majority will make the wrong choice....will we be among them?
The cramped road has no wriggle room....no place to comfortably turn back because it’s more difficult that we thought....for those who choose the difficult path, they travel it with Jesus, who promised to be with his “sheep”...he is the “Fine Shepherd” who takes his instructions from his God and Father. The sheep have the right guide and are in good company.
There is only one path to life and Jesus is the one “separating the sheep from the goats” as we speak.
By what we hold as truth....who we believe and why....and what we demonstrate in our everyday life that determines whether we are a sheep or a goat....Jesus is the judge.
In his parable about the “wheat and the weeds” (tares Matt 13:24-30).....what are the tares? It is thought to be a common weed in the Middle East called bearded darnel.....which resembles wheat so closely in the early growing stages that you cannot tell them apart, but as they grow and mature they develop into something toxic.
If a farmer had a grudge against his neighbor, he would sometimes sow this weed in among his crop to ruin it...usually under cover of darkness.
This represents a counterfeit form of Christianity, sown by the devil, to ruin the crop of disciples that Jesus was going to reap. There was no way to uproot the fake wheat without destroying the whole crop because the root systems were so entwined that the farmer had to let them both grow until the harvest so that he would at least have a crop, although diminished. No weeds entered the masters storehouse.....they were destroyed before the wheat was gathered.....place that scenario in today’s Christianity.....how does one tell the wheat from the weeds?
There are several ways.....
*They would know the God they worship, and they would know his Son as the Bible depicts them. (John 17:3) They would agree with Jesus Jewish apostles as to who was their “one God”. (1 Cor 8:5-6)
* They would be “no part of the world”, not adopting its standards, its corruption and greed over money, and having no part in its political activities or divisive conflicts. (John 17:16; 18:36; 1 John 5:19)
* They would be at peace with their brothers and love would be demonstrated in many practical ways as well as prayers for God’s assistance in these times of trouble. (John 13:3-35)
* They would not adopt pagan festivals and place a thin Christian label over them, as if God was not a witness to the originals. (2 Cor 6:14-18) Their truth would not be so contaminated.
* And it is God who chooses us, rather than we who choose him.....he sends his messengers out to the people and their response tells him if there is a willing heart to learn his truth...he then reciprocates by “drawing” that person to accept his one truth.....we know this because he tells us that this is so.
We know that no one can come to the Father except by Jesus Christ....but he also says that no he can come to the Son unless the Father grants it. (John 6:44; 65)
Think about that....
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Dan Clarkston
Well-Known Member
And His Word that came through the writings of the Apostles in the New Testament are His Word too.
Jesus continued His teaching ministry through His Apostles by the Holy Ghost after He went back to Heaven
Sadly, some claim only the red letters matter and all the rest of the New Testament can be ignored as being irrelevant.
It will be and is among Real Christians, but won't among the tares who follow doctrines of demons being the children of the devil and all.
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