Contend earnestly for the faith delivered once for all to the saints. Contend boldly, confidently, and lovingly. There is still a battle for the truth going on in the SBC. The battle for inerrancy was just the beginning and we are now battling for doctrinal truth, hermeneutical truth. The BFM leaves too much room for doctrinal error and slip shod hermeneutics, which ultimately shape the gospel that is presented.

That sounds like a terrible situation to be in, brother. My heart aches for this type of division, especially among leadership. Be encouraged, though, in the spirit of 1 Peter 5:9: that you’re not alone in this situation, as many brothers have had to deal with similar interactions and divisions.

In any case, I feel far from qualified to answer this question. I will say, though, that it sounds like — wherever the true fault is — that you feel that your pastor has sinned against you by being “underhanded,” or even perhaps by not accepting his “divine charge to pastor the flock.” Whether you’re right or wrong, Matthew 18:15 says to go to him.

I would be totally honest about how this has hurt you, without being disrespectful but also without shrinking back. Anticipating a discussion on the doctrines of grace, I’d even bring a Mac Study Bible and ask why they hand those out, after reading the notes on passages like Ephesians 1.

It’s hard to take 1 Thess 5:12-13 seriously when you feel like a sheep who isn’t being taken care of by the shepherd. I know this from intimate experience. But nevertheless we are still to esteem the shepherds whom God has placed over us. Most of all I think it’s our responsibility to pray for them. The same way a wife is submissive to her husband in all things (even if he doesn’t lead well) and is supposed to pray that God would honor her obedience and change her husband, so is the church to be submissive to the leaders we’ve been given, and entrust oursleves to the Righteous Judge (1 Peter 2:23). I do, however, think that we can go to our pastors (brothers) in love and truth while also esteeming them and not usurping their authority.

Bathe this one in prayer, brother. I look forward to how it goes.

MIKE

For the past 4 weeks (Seems like 4 months), my pastor has been jumping around the bible teaching on the topic of “Church Unity”. He has stated that the only real thing that our church should be united doctrinally on is the Gospel. I have a problem with this, because the Gospel as I understand it started before time began. (Not to mention the myriad other things that we should be united on doctrinally as I see things) Last week, one of my associate pastors was overheard calling me and “my group” hyper-calvinists (which is the common response to those who by God’s grace become a bit more mature in their understanding of the “whole plan of God”). Then this past Sunday, my pastor, in a thinly veiled attempt to poke a finger in the eye of those who hold to the doctrines of Grace, completely took 2 Peter 3:9 out of context to try and prove a point.

Now who is the cause of this division? Is it me? Should I go to my Pastor and ask him what exactly he does not agree with about the doctrine of unconditional election and the other points of “Calvinism”? Or should he, being the “Pastor” of my church, divinely charged with protecting his flock, being convinced in his mind that I am teaching heresy, confront me and “correct” my misunderstand about the “free-will” of man? The underhanded way that this is being dealt with by my pastoral staff is truly nauseating. It’s almost like they are trying to “push” me out of my role as a Sunday School teacher without having a “sit down” talk and explaining the Bible to me. I don’t know what to do. How far should I go? Should I step down as teacher? I am afraid that the situation at present is far from bringing glory and honor to God and this concerns me the greatest.

Yet, they continue to pass out the MacArthur Study Bibles to newly baptized members of our church. Now that’s the funny thing. I guess their hope is that it wont be read.

You are correct in stating that one cannot compromise on “The Truth” and there were and are many that are excommunicated for leading the flock astray with heresy and schism. My point was that division for divisions sake was and is not God’s plan, but the father of lies. Since there are many so called “Truths” that is why it is important to go back and see what scripture says about “The Church” since 1 Tim 3:15 – Church is the pillar and foundation of truth and Lk 10:16 – whoever hears you, hears me; rejects you, rejects me. It seems as though we can continue our discussion on “The Church” on John’s next posting…
God bless..

It’s precisely because of all those verses you cited at the end that we must contend for the faith (Jude 3) among professing believers, because we have the wheat growing along side the tares and can barely tell which is which. So divisions in the true body of Christ do come from Satan, but divisions between Christians in the church and non-Christians in the church comes from God. We’re given new natures, new desires, a new life… and we’re to come out from them and be separate (2Co 6:17). We are to remove the wicked man from among us (1Co 5:11-12). God has called His people out from the world to be holy and zealous for good works (Titus 2:14), and so He makes that division. Consider also this verse:

1 Corinthians 11:19 — For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you.

Paul acknowledges the presence of the tares among the wheat, and says that there has to be a division between these, otherwise the Church is synonymous with the world. Luther recognized that there were almost only tares professing to be wheat and stood up to make evident those who were approved.

So all those exhortations that you cited (which were great, by the way) are given so that if anyone does dissent, the Truth can be found and the matter settled. But if there is disagreement on the Truth, there’s no possibility for unity. It becomes a relational or psychological or emotional thing, with no real root or foundation. We are to hold the Truth is such a high regard that we are willing to bear reproach and ostracism for it. Psalm 69:8-9 — I have become estranged from my brothers And an alien to my mother’s sons. For zeal for Your house has consumed me, And the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.

True unity only comes from the Truth, and cannot come from anything else. For a great demonstration of that, I invite you to really dig into 2 and 3 John. Here’s a piece:

2 John 9-11 — Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.

Thanks,

MIKE

Yet it would be completely absurd to think that one person could say there is more then one way to heaven then through Jesus Christ and not be challenged because of moral relativism. But unfortunately this type of thought crept itself into the church. Many believe in churches across America that confrontation over matters of the truth is wrong simply because it may divide the church, not unite the church.

There are certain things that are not negotiable and if it divides the church, then it is worth the cost because the truth will always be the truth. The truth must always be upheld.

I grew up in a conservative Protestant church with the motto: “In all essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; and in all other things, love.” It was a great principle, but unfortunately the church spent all of its time focusing on love and now has been compromised to the world.

We need to live by the principle of truth, keep our focus on the cross, and show love to others by not compromising against the faith.

My 2 cents..
Division comes from the father of lies and is meant to divide and dilute the visible Body of Christ… Division comes about when there is a lack of respect for the authority given by Jesus to His Church (Lk 10:16 – whoever hears you, hears me; rejects you, rejects me. Mt 18:18 – power to legislate..Mt 18:17 – power to discipline)

Luther was right to complain about the abuses going on and because of it there were many disciplinary changes made, but in the end he threw out the baby with the bath water.

Just because there are and will always be “conterfeit Christians” doesn’t mean that the teaching or doctorine is bad..but as scripture says about the seeds (the word) being planted in rocky ground (hardened hearts)and not bearing fruit (Matt 13:3-9).

The Church must be one
Jn 10:16 – there will be one fold and one shepherd.
Eph 4:3-6 – one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father
Rom 16:17 – I urge that there be no divisions among you
1Cor 1:10 – I urge that there be no divisions among you
Phil 2:2 – be of same mind, united in heart thinking one thing
Rom 15:5 – God grant you to think in harmony with one another
Jn 17:17-23 – I pray that they may be one, as we are one
Jn 17:23 – that they may be brought to perfection as one
1Cor 12:13 – in one spirit we are baptized into one body
Rom 12:5 – we, though many, are one body in Christ
Eph 4:4 – one body, one Spirit, called to be one hope
Col 3:15 – the peace into which you were called in one body
Mt 16:18-19 – upon this rock I will build my Church (singular)
Mt 18:17 – tell it to THE Church; if he refuses to listen even to THE Church… (must be visible and singular)
1 Tim 3:15 – Church is the pillar and foundation of truth.

God bless..