On the Balance Between Faith, Truth and Unity

One of the important questions that any Christian needs to ask them self is what will be my relationship with my fellow believers? Some have tried to avoid the question by never interacting with other Christians. Others only interact with those who think and believe just like themselves. Still others freely move about from group to group, church to church, uninhibited by any preconceived walls of separation. An important and related question is how will I remain committed to the truth of God's Word when I am with Christians I don't agree with?

I would like to share an email that I wrote a friend and colleague recently. It speaks to the difficult issue of the balance that Christians are called to: how to live passionately believing the truth found in God's Word and living in harmony with my Christian brother and sister, even if we don't agree theologically. He was wondering what our ministries would look like and how effective we would be if we truly learned to live in harmony with all of our Christian brothers and sisters. Our discussion was based on Jesus Christ's prayer in John 17, particularly verses 20-23 where Christ prays that His followers would be known as for living in unity with each other. Below is the email:

It was good to visit with you yesterday in the truck , however short, as we travelled to Langley and back. Maybe we can fit in a walk next week or share a cup of coffee/tea together. I always treasure those times together. Please forgive the following lengthy discourse.

I wanted to interact more on what you were sharing yesterday. If you don't have time now, read it later. I was intrigued and encouraged by what you shared concerning your 'bombshell idea' at your meeting yesterday. As I said in the truck, I don't think the idea of 'our ministry being more effective if we find loving ways to live in greater unity' should be a bombshell, but it may be to some. What encouraged me beyond just the idea itself is that you were asking the group to wrestle with Scripture and how it impacts our ministry and not just wrestle with the latest missiological principles or Mission trends (which I am not opposed to doing). I always believe we do best when we find as many ways of bringing the Scriptures into our discussions, thoughts and strategies as possible. If I were leaving my burning house and had only enough time to grab my favourite missiological book or my favourite theological book, I think you know which one I would grab. So thank you for bringing the Scriptures to the forefront of the group's thinking and I pray they will take your thoughts to heart.

If I might, I would like to continue to build on the foundation you laid yesterday as you shared your thoughts on John 17, particularly verses 20-23. Without a doubt our effectiveness in building God's kingdom among First Nations People would be greatly enhanced by better learning how to live out Christ's prayer for unity in these verses. That would be true among any group of people, not just Native. Native people in particular though cherish the ideal of unity within community more than some cultures do, even if they struggle to live it out on a day to day basis. I think our living this particular ideal out in a Christian context would touch a heartfelt need and desire in the Native communities we minister in. I believe that in many ways NAIM has sought to do that although certainly not perfectly. Let's continue to dialogue about how we can collectively do that better.

There is the other side to the equation of effectiveness that Jesus' prayer in John 17 touches on: that of commitment to holding to and living out the Truth of God. This is the focus of the preceding verses. Unity without truth is not biblical unity. But we must also say doctrinal purity without unity is not biblical purity either. In fact it is oxymoronic to profess to hold to doctrinal purity all the while dismissing by the actions of our lives the truth of John 17:20-23. The challenge is not in choosing one or the other, nor is it in emphasising one over the other but in seeking how we might live out both. I don't think of these as two horses hitched to opposite ends of the wagon, competing with one another for which direction the wagon will be pulled. Rather, I see them as two horses hitched together, that when properly used, will pull the wagon to where it ought to go. The challenge or difficulty does not lie with the horses but rather in the skill of the driver to properly make use of both horses abilities and to make them work together. (And just to carry the illustration a bit too far, if the wagon represents the need to more effectively bring the Gospel of Christ to the First Nations communities, then I would suggest the wagon is big enough that it needs two horses to pull it!)

Unquestionably, without some tangible expression of unity towards my Christian brothers and sisters, our ministry effectiveness will be diminished. How do I credibly speak of the love of God while exhibiting little love or unity towards His other children? How would you or I feel if our children said they loved us and yet did not lovingly accept their brothers or sisters, our other children. I have seen families whose children's only ability to relate to one another is through their parents and are unable to directly relate to one another in a healthy functioning way. For the Christian to act like that would be a kin to what Paul describes in 2 Tim3:5, "...having a form of godliness but denying its power." But that is only one source of power for effective ministry and witness. Paul said in Romans 1:16-17, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes...for in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed..." Paul then spends the next 8 chapters expounding the doctrinal truths which empower the gospel.

I say this because I don't want us to look at our effectiveness as coming from one or the other, unity or doctrinal purity, but from both. To live out Biblical unity I must hold to Biblical orthodoxy in belief. To truly hold to Biblical orthodoxy in belief I must live in unity with my brothers and sisters in Christ. I must love my fellow family members in Christ and I must also love the truths found in the Word. As you know, throughout Church history, the Church has often done well at one or the other but seldom has done both well at the same time, both principles lived out iin harmony with each other. How can I tangibly live in unity with the brother/sister I disagree with theologically? Conversely, how do I not sacrifice Biblical orthodoxy on the alter of unity. That is the challenge we must continue to strive to ask and answer. I think the older I get the more tolerant and accepting I get towards my fellow members of the Body of Christ, whether or not I agree with them. At the same time, I remain as committed and passionate to doctrinal purity as I ever have been. I must continue to pursue a passion for and a humility in my understanding of God's Word and at the same time cultivate graciousness in attidute towards other members of the Body who hold to different understandings of the Word.

It seems to me that living in Biblical orthodoxy/purity in the context of NAIM means agreement with our doctrinal statement. We are a diverse group of Evangelical believers here at NAIM. Yet we find ways to graciously live in harmony with one another (most of the time). We need to bring that to the larger context of God's Kingdom, especially as it is visibly portrayed before the Native audience. We also need to demonstrate commitment to believing the Word and the specific truths found in it or else we will inadvertently reinforce 'universalistic' tendencies in Native thought concerning salvation and the means and paths to relationship with God. If our unity communicates, however unintentionally, that all thoughts and beliefs are okay, that all roads lead to God, then we are doing them a disservice. If, as you rightfully point out, we can't demonstrate a basic ability to get along with other Christians, if we can't figure out how to play in the sandbox together, than we will also do the Native community a disservice. They naturally reject the latter. The former, however, remains important.

These are just some thoughts (and somewhat disorganized and incomplete at best). They are not meant to tear down your 'bombshell idea' but rather to enhance it and build upon it. As you laid a valuable foundation yesterday, I am not suggesting a different structure be built from the one you began constructing but I am suggesting an idea to build into that structure. What do you think?

Let's keep talking about this. NAIM and the Body of Christ needs this valuable discussion.

Thankful for you today! Your little brother,Scott

Of course, this leaves many questions unanswered. When do I interact on questions of faith and practice with those I don't agree with? When do I remain silent? Is there an appropriate time to sever the relationship, or at least pull back and distance myself, because of differences? Is it possible to achieve unity with Christians I don't agree with? What does that look like?

These are all good questions, as are many more. We need to continue to struggle to answer these questions because we cannot deny that our Lord Jesus Christ asked us and prayed for us to remain strong in our commitment to Biblical truth and also to remain united and committed to my fellow believer.

Which one do you tend to favor? How will you address the corresponding weakness on the other side of the equation?

Church Is One Messed Up Place

Church is one goofed up, messed up place.

The other day a Native believer was telling me about some of the negative experiences she has had with Non-native believers. They make inconsiderate and rude remarks about Native people and culture. There are times when she just wants to walk away and stay away from church. It’s too frustrating and hurtful. Non-Church attending Christians and unbelievers will often tell me that Church is full of hypocrites. I tell them that it’s way worse than they think. O, the stories I could tell them. The stories the Bible tells about the early Church are enough to make you wonder. Some days I picture God sitting in heaven, shaking His head and saying, “What are they thinking?”

In Acts we see two of the main Church leaders and missionaries, Paul and Barnabas, arguing to the point of splitting up their ministry and walking away from one another. We have people flat out lying to God and Church leaders right in public for all to see. We find Peter hypocritically acting one way with Jewish Christians and another way with Gentile Christians. In Corinth we have a man sleeping with his step-mother. Believers there had no respect for Communion or fellow believers. In Philippians we have two prominent women, Euodia and Syntyche, publically arguing with one another to the point that Paul has to plead with them to get along. The Galatian believers were about to abandon the principle of grace and try to please God through their self-efforts at observing the Law. And that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Almost everyone of the letters in the New Testament is a response to some problem or problems in a church somewhere. Revelation 2-3 lists 7 churches full of problems.

You know what I am talking about. You have seen it yourself. I have seen Christians who won’t talk to or look at one another. I personally know of three pastors who have had affairs, deeply hurting their churches, destroying their families and staining God’s reputation in the world’s eyes. I have seen power plays by desperate Elders seeking to build or hold onto their power base. The church I grew up in was called an apostate heretical church by another church down the street (although we both believed in the inerrancy of the Bible, the deity of Christ, the necessity of faith in Christ’s work on the Cross as our only hope of salvation and more). I could go on and on. So could you.

It’s sad, isn’t it? And yet I read in Ephesians 5:25 “…Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” In spite of all her problems, the Church is still loved by Christ. That means the people in the Church are loved by Christ. Of course, He does not love all the things people and churches do. But at the core you will still find Christ loving His Church. He calls her ‘His bride.’ She is His prized possession.

His goal is to “make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless” according to Ephesians 5:26-27. Somehow, in spite of the people in churches, that is what Christ is doing and that is how Christ sees his bride.

So what are you and I to do? Well, for one thing, it’s not okay to just walk away from the Church simply because of the people in it. No, they are not perfect. But then again, neither are you or I. Somehow, we have to wrap our minds around the fact that “Christ loved (loves) the church and gave himself up for her.” We must let that truth absorb deeply into our thinking. And so let me offer the following four suggestions to help us live out this truth:

1. Learn to love the Church and the people in it (yes, including that person in your church/fellowship who drives you crazy.) We simply cannot love God without loving the people God loves. It’s impossible. If you don’t believe me read 1 John 4:7-11. STOP, don't keep reading this devotional. Get your Bible out and read 1 John 4:7-11.

2. Be patient with people. Remember James 3:2 that says, “We all stumble in many ways.” God is not done with you and God is not done with them yet. Perfection awaits for heaven. For now, it’s an uneven journey of faith and growth, of stumbling and getting up again. Colossians 3:12-14 says, “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Galatians 6:2 says, “Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

3. Pray and seek to find ways to make Church a better place. Begin with self examination and refection about your own life (Galatians 6:1; 1 Corinthians 10:12; Psalm 139:23). Maybe part of the reason that Church is such a goofed up place is because you are there. Looking at ourselves is always the most difficult place to start. But we must begin with ourselves first. And just maybe, possibly afterwards, in a very gentle, tactful and non-judgmental way you can go and speak to one of those other messed up followers of Christ about their sin so that their walk with Him can be more complete. Learn to be generous with your praise of others and stingy with your complaints and criticisms.

4. Gather with fellow believers. Yes, that’s right, attend church. That is the thrust of Hebrews 10:25 where it says, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing…” It may not be a perfect place, but Church is still God’s place for personal growth and development. He still loves to “inhabit the praise of His people” (not persons). All churches to some degree are imperfect and dysfunctional. That is an unfortunate by-product of any organization that has as one of its primary entrance requirements that one be an admitant sinner. However, if your church is truly an abusive place, ask God where you might find a fellowship or gathering of believers that can meet your needs and that you can participate in and contribute to in a positive way.

Yes, Church is one goofed up, messed up place. Far more than any of us knows. But Christ still loves her. Christ still gave His life for her. So should I. So should you.

Thoughts on Faith and the Resurrection

This Easter as I sat and listened to the Pastor speak on the Resurrection from 1 Corinthians 15 I found myself reading the story in John 20. Its not that the pastor wasn't preaching a fine message, he was. I just wanted to read the story myself. So I listened with one ear as I read from John.

After Mary Magdeline's initial visit to the empty tomb and report to the disciples, I read of Peter and John's visit to the grave. Peter entered and John looked on from the tomb entrance. I then read these interesting words in John 20:8-9: "Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)"

What caught my eye was the two lines next to each other: "...He saw and believed." followed by "They still did not understand..." Sometimes that is the way of faith. We don't understand completely yet we still believe. At that moment John did not understand all that Christ's death and resurrection meant. He did not understand from the Scriptures that all these events had to take place. What he understood as he looked at the empty tomb and the vacated burial clothes was that Christ had risen from the dead and was no longer to be found in the grave. Death was unable to hold its grip on Him.

That is reassuring to me in my faith journey with God. I may not always understand all that is going on. I will never come to a complete understanding of the Bible (although I hope that I understand it more everyday). But that shouldn't hold me back from a life of trusting dependence on God. I can believe God with what I do know and understand about Him. And I can trust God with what I have to deal with today.

Thank you, Lord, that you don't demand complete understanding from us. You only ask that we trust you with what we know and are dealing with today.