Church bulletin:
Wouldn’t it be a whole lot easier if one of the apostles put into writing exactly who, why and how someone should be baptised. Why isn’t there a passage outlining precisely the structure and parameters of church government. Wouldn’t the confusion and the differing views on eschatology never have eventuated if we had more detailed teaching. When writing about the Lord’s Supper to the Corinthians, if only Paul had provided further information and clarity. There are so many things we would like the Bible to say in a way that it does not.
Let us be sure, we are able to piece scripture together and have robust confidence in the fundamentals of the Christian faith. Definitive statements would no doubt help to clarify many issues, but that is not how God has ordered it. He chooses to leave some doors ajar. It raises a question – why? Why hasn’t God provided more information thus closing the door to so much speculation, controversy, debate, polemics, and sectarianism? Would it not be better to have less in the way of denominationalism and sects?
A few thoughts –
There is universal agreement among Christians over the identity and work of Jesus Christ. There is universal agreement among Christians as to the way of salvation – by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. There is universal agreement among Christians concerning basic Biblical morality. Reject these truths and you have rejected the Christian faith.
There are many doctrines, however, while very important, they do not save – the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, church government, election, eschatology, creation, corporate worship, etc. God would have us to be clear in our own minds concerning these things, yet He allows for differences of opinion. Rather than provide definitive statements for every doctrinal position, God provides definitive statements about attitudes and behaviour. This suggests that the way we respond to those who differ is just as important, even more important than what we believe concerning the doctrine itself. God allows for both Pedobaptism and Credobaptism, He allows for Post, A, and Premillennialism, He allows for Calvinism and Arminianism, He allows for different styles of corporate worship and so on. He does not allow His people to treat one another poorly, to shun fellow believers over ‘secondary’ issues, to be triggered when someone disagrees.
* Mark 9:38-41, “Now John answered Him, saying, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.” (39) But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. (40) For he who is not against us is on our side. (41) For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”
* John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. (35) By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Is there a reason why God has left the door ajar over so many issues? Perhaps He prizes love, graciousness and self-control above having agreement in the nooks and crannies of every doctrine and practice. We do not have to compromise our beliefs for the sake of peace, but we do need to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit when we relate to those who differ.