As we found last Sunday in class, members of the Church of Christ do want to think about fasting and anyone who mentions it is to be put back in the box. There are many other subjects on the not-to-be-discussed list including this one. Recently I contacted The Gathering concerning the printer they use for their bulk mailing literature. Along with the name of the printers, April, added a comment:
"We believe we are all in this together and it is truly about reaching as many people as we can for Christ, so please don't hesitate to contact me."
When we refuse to associate with others who differ in their understanding of the Bible are we implying that we have all the truth and are right about everything? That we cannot unite with someone who differs without compromising our convictions? Does the Bible require we separate from all who differ in belief or practice?
When Paul calls for us to welcome (receive, accept) one another, he is including all our sincere brothers in Christ --- even the weakest of them. Doesn't he forbid judgment regarding their particular scruples and practices?
Jesus did not accept us because we are right about everything. And since he accepts us while we are a sinner, poor, weak, and blind, how can we reject others because of the same qualities?
Doesn't separating from others who are in Christ work against Jesus' prayer for unity? When addressing the seven churches of Asia Jesus did not urge any to come out from among them and be separate by starting a pure, loyal church. They were warned to repent and reform. In the "dead" church in Sardis there were "a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy." Like Lot in the midst of corrupt Sodom, a person may be a part of a sinful society and still remain righteous. One may be in a congregation without approving or participating in the prevalent sins of others in it. One cannot separate himself from sinful people entirely but he is guilty only of the sins that he practices or approves. Nowhere do we read where one group was advised to separate from the rest within the church. Isn't similar advice today unscriptural and anti-scriptural? Aren't all groups flawed?
When Paul warned to "come out from them, and be separate from them," he was quoting Old Testament demands for separation from idolatrous involvements. Paul asked rhetorically, "What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols?" Paul is not calling for separation from brothers in Christ but from the Corinthian idolaters.
Is it possible we treat brothers and sisters in Christ as idolaters? Is the brother in the Christian Church who obeyed the same gospel that we obeyed to be regarded as an idolater? Even though we may fear that a Baptist is in some error, is he an errant believer, an unbeliever or a servant of Belial? If he is not a believer, what is he? Is he a pagan or an atheist? He is attempting to serve the same Jesus we are attempting to serve. Those in the Church of Christ (even in our own congregation) who differ from us in a belief and/or practice — how are they to be classified? If separation from them is demanded are we claiming they are unbelievers or idolaters?
Paul told the Christians in Rome that teachers who would create dissensions were to be noted and avoided. Paul had already taught them how to live in unity through mutual acceptance. No one was to be allowed to operate contrary to that doctrine by imposing his scruples on others so that division would be created. Those who were disturbing the unity in Rome were not sincere, ignorant, weak disciples, but they were selfishly licentious Judaizers.
In his letter to the Philippians Paul identifies them as perverted and sinful factious men to be ignored. The Thessalonian disciples were told to keep away from the deadbeat who would not work. Paul did not advise a withdrawal into separate congregations, but to "drive out the wicked person from among you." This action was not against any sincere brother who might hold some different ideas or practices, but it was toward the arrogantly immoral person among them. Is Paul directing us to drive out our brothers in the Christian Church as a group? Are they to be considered as flagrantly immoral, greedy, idolaters, revilers, drunkards, or robbers? How about Baptists?
No writer advised one group of disciples to reject another group and start a separate congregation. Brothers are not to be dealt with as though they were idolaters.
Jesus prayed that we be one. The Spirit made us one. Paul begs us to keep that unity and says "welcome one another!" Do we demand that we divide from our brothers who differ?
Does the Bible teache us to treat The Gathering as flagrantly immoral, greedy, idolaters, revilers, drunkards, or robbers?
In the story of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector which one represents members of the Church of Christ?
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Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179 cell
Gatlinburg, TN
Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/
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