Quote:
Originally Posted by Evangelical
There are biblical commands around having no divisions: 1 Cor 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought...
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First, the term used was "appeal to you" not "command." Dance around this if you like. Even Christ prayed that they would be one. It was clearly a goal. If it was to be a command in the way that the LRC speaks of it, it wouldn't have been overheard by one apostle, it would have been spoken boldly to the group.
But what is it to be one, or "of one mind" with respect to anything. It is evident in Acts 15 that there was not one mind, but that it "seemed good." I have no problem going along with what "seems good" even where I might actually think somewhat differently.
But when you trot out 1 Cor 1 and find a reference to division that says it shouldn't be, you avoid chapter 11 where it says "
In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval." I realize that there is the indication that there is ultimately something of God's approval. But on what? Paul himself provides instances of talking on both sides of the same subject. There are clearly issues in which the answer is not simply X and not Y.
And how do you come to arrive a the truth if you do not properly analyze all the possible thoughts on the subject? Consider Acts 15. They didn't simply silence those who suggested Jewish ritual laws. Instead they listened to some speak and then prayed. And what they came up with left a couple of the ritual laws in place. Do you think that was never revisited in any way shape or form? Of course it was. It was not decreed by some kind of oracle of God. It was agreed to by those who prayed about it. that is not the equivalent of the voice of God. But I do believe that it is close enough to agree with. And in "agree with" I mean that I can live with it. I do not subscribe 100% to the doctrinal statement of my assembly. But I can live with it anyway. I can keep any opportunity to teach within the bounds of that statement. It is not something that I am certain about. But I do think there is reason to believe differently. But it does not restrict my fellowship.
For example, the assembly I meet with is very dispensational. But I am not so sold on the whole dispensational understanding of scripture and theology. But I can live with it. There is too much else to agree with to quibble over that little bit of nonessentials.
Can you say that? Or are you bound to toe the complete doctrinal line of nonessentials of the LRC no matter what?