Right or Wrong — United or Divided
Welcome
A few weeks ago, our pastoral staff and I discussed the possibility of doing a church blog. We wanted to create another means for people to connect with our church. Because I am the Lead Pastor, I was commissioned to write the first post. So, I want to welcome you, and — if you like what you read — I encourage you to share the blog with others.
Right or Wrong — United or Divided
At the end of our weekly staff meeting, we discussed what topic I would address in our first church blog. Our Student Pastor, Evan Sustar (who is also my son), suggested I write about the Unpardonable Sin found in Matthew 12:22–32. An intense debate ensued, with most of the banter occurring between Evan and me. Our Children’s Pastor, Amy Ledford, said it was a lot like watching a ping-pong match as we went back and forth.
Can the unpardonable sin be committed today or was that something that could only be done while Jesus walked the Earth? Can a believer commit the sin? Can a believer commit the sin totally in ignorance? If so, does that mean the consequence of no pardon does not apply?
We never arrived at definitive answers for every question, and I decided we would avoid this topic for our first blog.
Note: Evan and I may attack this issue in a future podcast (Let’s Talk About God).
However, the whole thing got me thinking about how easy it is for those in the church to have many differing views on the Bible. For example:
Will the Resurrection and Rapture occur before, during or after the Tribulation? Is speaking in other tongues the initial evidence that you have been baptized with the Holy Spirit? When my dog dies, does he go to Heaven?
Now, I believe in a Pre-tribulation Rapture, that speaking in tongues is the initial (but not the only) evidence of Spirit-infilling, and that my dog isn’t Glory-bound. However, I have friends who believe the Rapture occurs after the Tribulation, and I know pastors who maintain you can be filled with the Spirit without speaking in tongues. My wife has let me know that our Shih Tzu, Pudge, was a Christian dog and is waiting on her when she walks through the pearly gates. If by some chance she is right, I argue that there will not be any cats in Heaven-I have never met a Christian cat in my life.
Yes, we differ in some of our biblical beliefs, and the temptation is to announce,
“I am right, and you are wrong!”
I have discovered that this approach is rarely uniting and is normally divisive. Entire denominations have been formed because someone said,
“We’re right, and you folks are wrong.”
A careful examination of Church History will show that most Christians agree on some major biblical concepts. I say most because those who label themselves as liberal theologians choose to see things differently. Nonetheless, I am offering a list of doctrinal statements that are fundamental to the Christian faith:
· The verbal inspiration of the Bible. The Bible cannot be treated as just another human document. Rather, Scripture owes its origin to the creative work of the Holy Spirit. It is the inspired Word of God.
· One God eternally existing in three persons: namely, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is the doctrine of the Trinity. The Athanasian Creed says, “So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet there are not three gods but one God.”
· Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father, conceived of the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary. God came to earth as a man through a miraculous birth. This is the incarnation, the union of God and man in the person of Jesus Christ.
· Jesus was crucified, buried, and raised from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is today at the right hand of the Father. God sent Jesus to save us from our sins. Through His death on the cross, Jesus made a new and living way to reconcile sinful man to God. Through His Resurrection, God demonstrated that Jesus’ death was and is the power of God for our salvation. He lives eternally as our Savior and Intercessor.
· All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and repentance is commanded of God for all and necessary for the forgiveness of sins. Everyone is born a sinner and has done wrong. In order to receive salvation, we must repent (turn from our sins and to God) and ask God for forgiveness for our sins.
· Justification and regeneration are available by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ through God’s grace. No amount of works or religious activity can make you right with God. You must trust in Jesus’ atoning work on the cross and lean on God’s grace (unmerited favor and love). Salvation is a gift to receive, not something to be earned.
· The premillennial second coming of Jesus and the bodily resurrection. Jesus will reign on the earth for 1000 years. Also, He will resurrect the righteous dead and catch away the living saints. Those who are wicked and unrepentant will be resurrected for eternal punishment.
Yes, some doctrinal differences are inevitable, and we can agree to disagree about the minor things. However, our goal should always be to strive for common ground. The next time someone wants to go down the path of “my belief versus your belief,” try to guide the discussion towards the things you agree on. It will encourage unity among brothers and sisters in Christ, and you might even learn something new.
