Jun 18 2007
Are differing views among Followers of Christ taboo?
[From Colorado Gazette]
Colorado Right to Life, which ran a full-page ad in The Gazette last month criticizing Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, was ousted Wednesday from the National Right to Life Committee.
Colorado Right to Life President Brian Rohrbough and the leaders of three other groups accused Dobson of mischaracterizing a recent Supreme Court ruling as a victory for abortion opponents.
Read about it here.
[From me]
What happened to freedom? Do believers have to agree on everything? What’s with all of the bullying by various groups to hold the party line. My dad and I disagree on Calvinism. He is a 5 pointer and I’m less than… But does that make me less his son?
Why can’t believers have differing views on the “Grey” areas? Not everything is spelled out in the Bible. Some interpret portions differently. If we can agree that having a personal relationship with Jesus is essential, why can’t we agree to disagree in other areas and still worship together?
What do you think?
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9 responses so far
It doesn’t really strike me as significant that the people involved happen to be “believers”. Just like being an atheist doesn’t turn you into an axe murderer, being religious doesn’t free you from all of the baggage of being human. In other words, I think this is best understood in terms of sociology rather than spirituality.
I found the following article fascinating, and I think it is relevant, because it suggests that evangelism is predicated on disagreement. It doesn’t say so, but the consequence seems to be that if there wasn’t anything to vehemently disagree about, evangelical sects would either fall from prominence, or have to invent something to disagree about. I think we do see that. I’d love to get your views.
http://www.prospect.org:80//cs/articles;jsessionid=a2QLq6QB-VqeBOjCTm?article=religion_and_the_threat_effect
I agree with the article and the comment. Now, for the hat trick! The main focus should be about loving and honoring Jesus, the Son of God. Debating the side issues is not all that important. Looking at these differences as sociological seems logical. Remember the human trait of desiring power/recognition is alive and well, even inside Christianity.
Geekwad,
Thanks for the link. I would agree with the article. The Bible is clear that persecution causes evangelism to grow.
My problem is when people in my own faith fight with each other. That is sad.
Mad Mouser,
Thanks for dropping by. I agree we shouldn’t fight over side issues. The Apostle Paul didn’t fight he talked–Remember Mars Hill.
Well said. We’ve recently been given “the freedom to seek another church” over differences regarding our understanding of the age of the earth. I linked an article from Resurgence recently about the proper way to dispute. It bothers me to think how grieved God must be when believers tussle.
Steve, I couldn’t agree more. I don’t think this is what God meant for us.
Kevin, this is one of the reasons I’m so excited about the New Baptist Covenant celebration in Atlanta next winter, because it’s designed to be a place where all different kinds of Baptist Christians will worship together, despite the fact that we may disagree on some of the non-essentials. I’m looking forward to the chance to be part of a time of reconciliation around the cross of Christ.
Kevin,
You said, “why canât we agree to disagree in other areas and still worship together?”
Apparently this is becoming harder to do in the SBC.
BTW, I agree with your Dad. ;>
Les
Maybe I’ve been poorly influenced by those few unpopular American’s who liked Brooke Shields and think Tom Cruise was a dolt. However psychology is at best a Pseudo-Science. The fact that Christian Counselors exist is a concession, because the church is not doing it’s job.
If you were to truly examine in light of scripture, psychology, Christian or otherwise, makes absolutely no sense and has no place in the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christian psychology is in opposition to the clear teaching of Godâs Word, yet multitudes endorse it and embrace it eagerly.
Nothing against trained Christians who sincerely counsel from the whole of God’s word but I think Dobson and his whole idea of Christian Psychology that has permeated the American Church is as Kosher as a Virginia Ham.
In Christ
Andrew \o/
Titus 2:13
ref: http://www.thebereancall.org
BTW Kevin… I am neither a Five-Point Calvinist, nor Arminian. I believe we are to adhere firmly to the biblical teaching of God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility and avoid any theological systems of belief that go beyond the written Word and divides the body of Christ.
C-ya
Andrew
Dozer, quite a lot about life doesn’t make sense when viewed from the point of view of scripture. Why stop at psychcology? All modern medicine is absolutely predicated on things scripture says just aren’t so.
“Christian Psychology” is new to me. Perhaps I’m happier not knowing.