Group Think: A Sinister Snare For Elders and Congregations Alike

[TLFisher]

Originally Posted by OBW

Being of one accord does not indicate abdication of reason coupled with absolute agreement, but rather a determination for unity despite potential differences. Does anyone think that everyone was absolutely clear concerning what to tell the Gentiles in Acts 15? Probably not, but the sense of how to proceed came out and all stood behind it despite any thoughts to the contrary. There is nothing that says that they had all agreed before the decision was reached. But it was what went out. And Paul never denied anyone the right to practice circumcision, or to eat or refrain from eating meat, or observe or not observe days. Instead, he pointed them to tolerance for those who took a different position in practice. He also put restraint upon those who were stronger in the faith to watch out for those who were weaker. To require adherence to one way is to ignore all those things and to trample on the weaknesses of others.

Mike, one chapter of empasizing oneness is in Ephesians 4. In practice reason is abdicated in order to remain in one accord. Brothers are quaraintined just because "brother so and so said so". That is abidcating reason in order to remain one with the brothers. No proof or justification is required. This is not what Paul intended in his epistles. Remember all scripture is God-Breathed and profitable for teaching. A point Paul made in one of this epistles was not stumbling his brother. If a brother eats meat or deson't eat meat, don't make eating meat or not eating meat a point to be in one accord.

Terry