John 17:21 that they may all be one. Just as you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be one in us, so that the world may believe that you sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, so that they may be one, just as we are one. I am in them, and you are in me. May they be completely one, so that the world may know that you sent me and that you have loved them as you loved me.
There is a tendency, among us all, I suppose, to choose some part of the truth, and attach undue importance to that, to the neglect of other truths. It is a grave question if this is not the origin of various divisions which are to be found in the Church of Christ – not so much heresy, as the attaching of disproportionate importance to some truth, to the disparaging or neglecting of others equally necessary. C. H. Spurgeon
People have asked me why are you so critical and intolerant about people categorizing and practicing certain doctrines as ’essential’ and others as ’non essential?’ My answer? Because Scripture does not give us a blank check to teach others anything that looks like or sounds like doctrine. By definition we are to teach that which is in accord with sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. I agree, that passage in Titus 1 is probably not spoken of in so-called Churches like Rick Warren’s, nevertheless, it is instruction. We are not to be tolerant of false or creative doctrines designed by cunning men.
I will admit we are to be tolerant (to a point) of those who may not understand a doctrine or be weak in the faith, and we are told to approach them gently. According to 2 Timothy 3, we use the Scriptures to convict, correct and then train. But, what is the responsibility of the one who has been brought to believe doctrine is a free4all as long as it falls under essential or non essential? To be a Berean! To examine and prove ALL things and hold fast to that which is already established and true. That does not excuse another to teach us to tolerate another’s doctrine simply because it is viewed or considered by the self proclaimed theologions (past, present or future) as a “non essential.”
The gist of this article is to say that many have decided to go out on a limb and with their feelings as their guide, have decided to adopt a doctrine and later, after having been fed such a particular diet, teach that doctrine to others as truth. End result? Division! Let me come right out and give one example. The issue of the tribulation. Is it a pre, mid or post tribulation? First off, thats not one doctrine. That appears to be three separate views that do not compliment one another, they contradict one another. You may say to me; “Moshe, that there is a perfect example of a “non essential” doctrine! Lighten up” Really? The left behind series does not come across to me as option a, b or c, rather, it comes across very dogmatically. I am not saying you cannot hold to a personal conviction. what I am saying is that you better not go around teaching others that your view is right doctrinally and it is ok to teach others because it falls under the classification of ”non essential.”
Note to Christians; remember this rule-if there is no precept, command or example from the Scriptures you must refrain from doctrinal positions. If there is not sufficient information provided from the scripture from and the apocalyptic literature is yet to be revealed, then please tell me by what authority you have to teach a position
A non essential doctrine causes a departure from unity and leads to division. I have said it before and I will say it again. Because of this mindset developed hundreds of years ago, many believers have abandoned a narrow attitude. (which in turn causes a separated body within the bride of Messiah.) Treating the Scriptures like a theological salad bar is where we have come. Opening the Bible, picking and choosing doctrines that people like and refusing doctrines that they don’t like.
The opening passage above is one of many Scriptures teaching us that we have the will of God before us to pursue and achieve, but it will not happen if we maintain the idea that we are all given liberty to believe, some things are essential and others are not. Our desire must become more than a desire. Our desire is to be one with the Son of God. That includes being one with all our being and this is brought about by doctrine. Being one with the Son of God bears fruit among the body causing us to be one and unified. This desire and zeal should follow in the spirit of the prophets, the patriarchs, the disciples and the Messiah himself. It comes with blood, sweat, tears and sometimes, even death. We must have unity and conformity in our doctrine with other like minded believers. Unity cannot be achieved when we have three Christians with five doctrinal opinions. We must not allow this sort of disunity to remain within us. It has been an embarrassment to the Lord and gives arguments to the enemies of God.
Even though it is one of the most ignorant statements made, Roman Catholics love to state, “the Protestants have thousands of denominations.” Although it doesn’t excuse their outright idolatry, they do have a point. That isnt to say we consider ALL protestants genuine Christians. But, what about the differences between those in say, the reformed camps? Because we will not re-consider placing certain doctrines we hold to in a place where they are not made standards, we are dividing the body. We begin with the Baptist (no I’m not picking on the Baptists, I just want to make a point.) “I’m a Baptist, i’m a Southern Baptist, i’m a Primitive Baptist, i’m an Independent Baptist, etc, etc.” As I say, this is ridiculous and is embarrassing and is WRONG.
I will talk later about divisions in Judaism, but there is no excuse for it. Someone is wrong when they hold to a difference and another is wrong if they allow another to maintain a difference. What do we do with differences? My position? Keep them to ourselves. You believe in the rapture? Fine. Keep it to yourself and don’t teach others what you may not understand at this time and especially if it cannot be proven from the Scriptures. A belief healthy belief system always has a precept, example or command from the Scriptures. If you have no instruction, no command or no example from the Scriptures, you have gone beyond that which is written.
I can excuse a believer who is new to the faith and is just immature and needs to grow. On the other hand, there is a time to depart from a person or denomination if…the denomination has had their lampstand removed. Then it is commanded for us to leave that church. J. Gresham Machen is an example of following the commands of the Lord and he separated himself from a liberal church which in turn is a dead church where primarily dead people attend. I refer to those who attend, say the PCUSA, as “the living dead.” Why do people continue to support and attend the PCUSA? Because many of the attendees are not converted, they do not know their Bibles. Talk about unity? They seem to be quite unified with unbiblical issues more than the Christians with biblical issues.
Some well meaning Christians have the attitude that they can make a difference from within. This business of Ravi Zacharias and Michel Card and Richard Mouw going into the Mormon Temple to teach, lead worship and then tell the Mormons that we have demonized them really gave me grey hair. (I talk about this later on)
I have heard this time and time again from people who claim they know and believe the gospel, but remain inside, say, the Roman Cathoilc Church. This is the most ridiculous attitude I have ever heard. What happened to God’s instructions over the matter? Are we or are we not the temple for the Holy Spirit? Do we bring God’s Spirit into places where the Devil is worshipped? I do not believe it is a stretch to quote from 2 Corinthians 6:14-18;
Stop becoming unevenly yoked with unbelievers. What partnership can righteousness have with lawlessness? What fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony exists between Christ and Beliar, or what do a believer and an unbeliever have in common? What agreement can a temple of God make with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said: “I will live and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” Therefore, “Get away from them and separate yourselves from them,” declares the Lord, “and don’t touch anything unclean. Then I will welcome you. I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters,” declares the Lord Almighty.
What part of be not unequally yoked do they not understand? What is one of the reasons so many so-called Protestants maintain this attitude? They justify their actions by arguing that the Roman Catholics hold to the “essentials” and we can use that as a starting point. That is asinine and Devilish!
Messiah did not come to bring unity between heretics. I have heard time and time again how we are to work with those who say they are believers and yet, bring to us a different gospel. We do not work with heretics! We follow the instructions of the Scriptures. We are to have nothing to do with those who bring to us contrary teachings. We call the heretics to repent. We warn them and then after we warn them we avoid them.
Titus 3; Have nothing to do with a person who causes divisions after you have warned him once or twice. For you know that a person like this is corrupt and keeps on sinning, being self-condemned.
Romans 16; Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and sinful enticements in opposition to the teaching you have learned. Stay away from them!
We evangelize and warn them so they know they are not accepted as one of us and have no assurance that we are on the same page doctrinally.
While on this subject let me ask a question that caused me to work harder on this paper. The question; knowing what we do about the story of Nineveh and how Jonah was commanded by the Lord to call the City to repentance, what if, Jonah decided to bring with him some of the Jews to lead in a worship service inside his palace and before the King? Can you picture it? A sort of concert with a crowd of Ninevites. After the worship, Jonah proceeds to teach a sermon using terminology accepted by the Ninevites? What if one of Jonah’s associates, who came along to support Jonah, got up before the King and apologized for demonizing their doctrines and standards of living?