“When We Disagree”

Sunday, February 12, 2023

Christians face a difficult and often frustrating balancing act, in the effort to keep doctrine pure.  On one hand, the risks involved in failing to address such a problem are obvious, and there are multiple commandments in the New Testament to deal with false teaching quickly and decisively.  For just one example,

For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. (Titus 1.10-11)

It doesn’t get much clearer than that!  There are also examples that show us the consequences of failing in this responsibility.  Even before considering that we must all one day stand before the judgment seat of God, the results of these heresies have direct and immediate consequences in this life.

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. (2 Peter 2.1-3)

Yet, as horrifying as these consequences are, and as much as they motivate us to uproot any such destructive heresy, we must also acknowledge that simple misunderstandings are liable to cause just as much havoc!  For example, after helping to conquer the promised land under the direction of Joshua, the tribes who’d settled on the other side of the Jordan set up an altar before crossing over back to their homes. 

And when the people of Israel heard of it, the whole assembly of the people of Israel gathered at Shiloh to make war against them. (Joshua 22.12)

Fortunately, they had the good sense to send a delegation to ask just what was the intent behind this, along with an admonition,

“do not rebel against the Lord or make us as rebels by building for yourselves an altar other than the altar of the Lord our God.” (Joshua 22.19)

They soon learned that this altar was “not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice, but to be a witness between” the Israelites on each side of the river, to remind them of their shared heritage and covenant with God (vv26-27).  It must have been somewhat embarrassing to the gathered armies, to realize they’d gone to such trouble in preparing for a civil war, over an imagined offense; but what a relief!  Think of the bloodshed and the lasting divisions that would have resulted, if they'd acted with any more haste, or if they’d been unwilling to admit their mistake and back down!

It gets worse.  What if you’re wrong, and don’t admit it, or even acknowledge the possibility?  Gamaliel—no Christian!—gave good advice to the Sanhedrin, when he said of the newly-established church,

“if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” (Acts 5.38-39)

We can see a similar example—with Peter again stuck in the center of the strife—when he fielded the damning accusation, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them” (Ac 11.3).  It’s sad to say, but versions of this controversy lasted, among Christians, for many years—one holding that “there is neither Jew new Greek” (Ga 3.28), and another insisting, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved” (Ac 15.1).  Eventually it was sorted out, and today almost no one can fathom that there would be disagreement on this point.  But how many people fell away, were pushed away, or forged ahead down a path of their own making, over this issue?

We’d like to think we have it figured out, in our day and age—after all, during those days God was still giving additional revelations to his people, and so it’s more understandable that some questions remained unanswered, or insufficiently answered.  But today?  God’s Word is unchanging!  How could there be doctrinal disputes?  And yet, one has only to look back at the divisive behavior of Christians when covid hit, to see that it’s very possible for brothers and sisters, reading the same Word of the same God, could reach opposite conclusions and flatly condemn any who didn’t see it their way.  Do you think that’s the only area where such doctrinal disagreements could occur?

We should strive for doctrinal purity, but we should also take to heart Jesus’ rebuke:

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!” (Matthew 23.23-24)

Camels and gnats were both unclean, according to Leviticus 11; was Jesus advocating for ignoring the rule that pertained to insects, in favor of the one pertaining to mammals?  No; but he used this ridiculous metaphor to illustrate that they had misplaced their focus.  Let’s not make the same mistake!  As Paul reminds us, when we engage in these controversies, we run a risk.  If we’re wrong—and even if we’re correct, but go about the argument improperly—we may create a stumbling block for a brother, and thus “destroy the one for whom Christ died” (Ro 14.15).  What are your priorities?

Jeremy Nettles

Share