"We Don't Want To Do Battle Over These Things"
"It is good that the people of God are driven to God's word. Those who love family, friends, father, or mother more than the Lord became evident. Now I must decide not only on the doctrinal issues, but on what side of the doctrinal issues are my friends and family members. Remember Deuteronomy 13. If your cherished wife, your closest friend or one of your children becomes involved in this, you must maintain your allegiance to the Lord and be done with them. We become involved in doctrinal battles and suddenly we say, "Well, you may be right. You may have the correct view of Scripture, but I just don't think that I want to part friendship over this." The process of erosion begins.
You started just a bit off track, but over time, what eventually happens? You may have seen an example of this when brick houses are built. The bricklayer started out laying bricks level and straight. After a while, a few bricks are no longer straight and level. Soon you see the whole wall is not straight or level and say, "I cannot live with that." The bricklayer replies, "Why not? We were only a little off back here." You point out, "Yeah, but look where you ended up!" They say, "Oh, no. Look where we started." You say, "No! Look where we ended!" Do you think the Presbyterians under John Calvin intended to end where they are today? Or the Methodists under John and Charles Wesley? Or the Lutherans under Martin Luther? What happened? The people of God get weary in the conflict. They started out with a solid foundation, but became a little tolerant saying, "We don't want to do battle over these things. I don't want to do battle or fight any longer. I really don't want to lose any more friends.""
by Gil Rugh
"Destructive Heresies in Today's Church" 1996
You started just a bit off track, but over time, what eventually happens? You may have seen an example of this when brick houses are built. The bricklayer started out laying bricks level and straight. After a while, a few bricks are no longer straight and level. Soon you see the whole wall is not straight or level and say, "I cannot live with that." The bricklayer replies, "Why not? We were only a little off back here." You point out, "Yeah, but look where you ended up!" They say, "Oh, no. Look where we started." You say, "No! Look where we ended!" Do you think the Presbyterians under John Calvin intended to end where they are today? Or the Methodists under John and Charles Wesley? Or the Lutherans under Martin Luther? What happened? The people of God get weary in the conflict. They started out with a solid foundation, but became a little tolerant saying, "We don't want to do battle over these things. I don't want to do battle or fight any longer. I really don't want to lose any more friends.""
by Gil Rugh
"Destructive Heresies in Today's Church" 1996
posted by kennyo at 12:59 PM
1 Comments:
I am not certain if we are dealing with sin/error or blasphemy/reprobation. I am reminded of Christ's words in Matthew 13:25-30 and fear that we can in our zeal to serve over inflate our abilities rather than allow the Spirit to work through the body. True we must never accept what we believe to heretical but I believe we should exercise restraint when dealing with the heretic. Not to endorse their error but also to not assume they are unsaved.
Hank
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