October 9, 2020
The month of October may cause some people to think of Halloween. I, however, have my mind go back to one specific October 31 when Martin Luther could no longer remain silent. He wrote up his statements of contention (95 Theses) and made it public by nailing it to the door of All Saints’ Church in Wittenberg, sparking the Protestant Reformation! Is it ever right to disagree with the Church? Should we question something the pastor or priest has said? At first, this may seem like a bad thing. However, questioning and searching the Scriptures is a way to maintain the purity of the Church.
Disagreements over doctrine have been addressed by church counsels right from the start of the church, and sometimes those debates were heated! Acts, chapter 15, shows us one of these times. Peter and Paul go head to head over the issue of circumcision for Gentile believers. Christains in Berea were called “more noble than those in Thessalonica” because “they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” (Acts 17:11) The church is called to both unity and purity. Sometimes, for the sake of the purity of the church, and for our own growth and sanctification, there are disagreements. We must guard our hearts to always be seeking the truth from Scripture, not just our own opinion.
There are three major types of disagreements. Disagreements over primary issues, such as the nature of Christ and salvation, are what caused splits such as the Protestent Reformation. By name, these people were in protest of the Roman Catholic Church. The debate was over the very doctrines that defined Christianity. Disagreements over secondary issues, such as the role of free will in salvation and the nature and role of Church sacraments (called ordinances by some) have caused divisions that have made various denominations. These would be people that still consider others to be Christians, but they do not worship with them on a regular basis. Their theological differences make worship together too contentious. The third type of disagreements are over tertiary issues such as the place of children’s ministry or types of songs used in worship. These are things we may disagree on, but can still maintain the unity of the Church. We can worship together just agreeing to disagree about these issues. They do not affect the gospel or the unity and work of the Church.
Regardless of the type of disagreement, everyone in disagreement should be open to discussion without harboring animosity towards those with whom they disagree. Our goal in disagreement should be the purity of the Church, a better understanding of Scripture, and the Glory of God. Disagreement can help us think more deeply about our own faith, and cause us to search the Scriptures ourselves. We must be ready to do some hard work as we contend for the faith.
Paul encourages the Ephesians to maintain unity. However, he does not tell them not to discuss issues or doctrine. He instructed them to be patient and loving with one another as they speak! God gave shepherds and teachers to the Church to help equip the saints for the work of ministry. The goal is continued maturity in the faith, “so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love...Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.” (Ephesians 4:14-16, 25-27)