Unity or Dissension—Which?
A fellow believer who is party to one of our many sects related, “Anyone who teaches other than that which is clearly revealed in the Scriptures is a false teacher.” He added, “If he does not surrender his false teaching, he is a heretic and should be treated as one.”
It is correct to say that as long as this brother demonstrates this brand of unyielding attitude, he will remain separated from God’s other children. He categorizes as heretical anyone whose views run counter to his party’s doctrinal platform. He’s a good man, a supportive husband, and a loving father. He’s a graduate of an Evangelical Seminary and has served as “pulpit minister” and Elder for many years. Bless his heart, he has yet to evolve out of the backwoods of sectarianism, where most of us were “stationed” at one time or another.
This brother’s sincerity has never been in doubt, yet his idea of oneness/unity hinges on absolute conformity to his party’s conception of biblical doctrine. He is convinced his church is the one ushered in by Jesus Christ and that anyone who resists his view of what Jesus founded is in danger of being lost. He believes there can be no unity until all others give up what they have and join him and his church.
In spite of all this, I still consider this man a beloved brother. He’s a beloved brother because he and I have the same Father and he truly feels his concepts are in harmony with the divine testimony. He doesn’t fit the biblical definition of false teacher, for he is not teaching false doctrine knowingly and deliberately.
He reminds me of the way our dearly departed Alexander Campbell, Reformer, once described himself while an adolescent Christian. He said, “I was once so strong a separatist I would neither pray nor sing with others unless they were as perfect as I knew myself to be.” Campbell added, “If I had persisted in this most unpopular course, there could never be a congregation of saints on earth.”
Sooner or later we all must come face-to-face with Campbell’s conclusion. For if everyone must arrive at our level of intelligence and attain our degree of biblical knowledge before unity can be achieved, the community of the redeemed will always be splintered. All of us were once like Campbell in that we were spiritual adolescents—growing, maturing, reaching out, prodding, grasping, and learning. Many of us found greener pastures and higher plains while others fought growth and change and remained adolescents and slaves to the status quo. But free or enslaved, we have the same Father and we are here to prod each other to greater heights.
But getting back to our brother’s partisan stance, what causes the divisive spirit among us? Is it not a matter of allegiance? For if our allegiance is placed in some party, or in some religious journal, or in some church, or in some TV evangelist, we will never unite. We will simply continue hoisting our factional flags and bolstering our parties. The Corinthians were faced with the same problem. The allegiance of some was placed in Paul, others were devoted to Peter, and still others had given themselves to Apollos. Although not physically separated, they were nonetheless divided—divided in that they rejected each other as “faithful” believers.
The great apostle Paul’s admonition is fitting here. He says to “set your affections on things above” (Col. 3:2). The Living Bible hits home by saying that “heaven should fill our thoughts.” Wherever the party spirit makes its abode, heaven is placed in the background and the party becomes the center of attention. But wherever the Holy Spirit is permitted to take the lead, tranquility shines like the noonday’s sun.
The family of believers—God’s ekklesia—had a glorious genesis and a noble existence the first two centuries. But then she began to place her allegiance in religious parties, projects, organizations, and church structures. The result has been hundreds of splintered groups or churches—scattered across the partisan landscape.
The solution, as I see it, is that we must cast aside every partisan shackle, dismantle our church idols, dismiss the professional clergy, and reset our allegiance on things above. A united front will then surface, with Jesus as Captain and the Holy Spirit as Counselor. With them by our side, we will beat down every barrier and defeat all obstacles. If some prefer to be left behind to wallow in the ashes of sectarianism, that is their choice. But we will press onward—so help us God.
