The call for doctrinal unity has gone out across the centuries.
Are we there yet? (not by a long shot)
Where is the problem?
Perhaps it is in the assumption that the unity of the faith is doctrinal unity.
- Can there be unity of the faith that overlooks doctrinal differences?
- Does the Body of Christ have room for differing views on doctrine?
- What would the church look like if we didn't label differing views as BAD or FALSE doctrines?
- Is a differing view unbiblical simply because it doesn't agree with our own biblical position?
- Can two opposing views BOTH be biblical, if biblical evidence to support each view is given?
Equating the word 'biblical' with the right doctrine or inerrant thing to believe is in a sense an oxymoron. For example, slavery was justified from the bible in the southern states of the US ....yes, 'slavery' is biblical.
The subjugation of women is justified by many from the bible......by and large the Bible is a patriarchal document; for example, does anyone know the names of Noah's wife or the names of the wives of his Sons? why not? because they were hardly counted worthy in the authors reality....again, when a woman is caught in adultery, it is she that gets shamed....even stoned. etc etc
As believers in Jesus we need to be asking how the scriptures testify to Jesus.....and if they don't (as in the commands to commit genocide in the OT) we are to learn what brought such about.
It is clear that the word 'biblical' is too broad a brush for it to qualify as an inerrant term. We view Judas poorly because he betrayed and suicided yet Samson who was a womaniser and a murderer is listed among those of faith in the book of Hebrews.
It is also evident that Samson is not a good role model to follow in spite of being listed in the list of the faithful.......and King David? have you considered his history because the question needs to be asked, what part of his life would you hold up as exemplary?
If one wants to be selective, meaning one puts their head in the sand when 'inconvenient' facts/ truths are presented that are also 'biblical' then one has swallowed the blue pill.
.....and for those unfamiliar with the analogy, here is a search definition:
'The red pill and blue pill represent a choice between the willingness to learn a potentially unsettling or life-changing truth by taking the red pill or remaining in the contented experience of ordinary reality with the blue pill. The terms originate from the 1999 film The Matrix.'