Disagreeing with Other Christians

The following sermons will help us to think further through our approaches to the differences we have with other believers:

The Behaviors of a Healthy Church: https://youtu.be/n9F8PBBmqaw
The Church in it's Right Mind: https://youtu.be/AF-_JZ06W6o
Keys To Church Unity: https://youtu.be/yySyESELG-M
Getting Along in the Family of God - Part 1: https://youtu.be/Nz-uxA_FPTs
Getting Along in the Family of God - Part 2: https://youtu.be/gFr5lsxEMTU
Loving Those With Whom We Differ: https://youtu.be/_eTSdWmHmZw
The Worthy Walk - Part 2: https://youtu.be/I_ExmXvdqKA
Gentleness: https://youtu.be/1y7x85OoWvE

This week on the Straight Truth Podcast, Dr. Josh Philpot shares some of the intense wrangling and controversial debates he sees happening within Christian circles. These things being talked about and sometimes hotly argued about are highly magnified by social media, the comment sections, and all the rest. Understanding that all believers, even within a solid local church, will not agree about everything, he asks Dr. Richard Caldwell how can Christians find a way through some of this. Can Christians disagree so strenuously and not cause disunity that brings harm to the body of Christ? What might be the best approach to having some of these discussions that need to be had? Can some of this lead us to dis-fellowshipping with other believers?

Dr. Caldwell shares that these are great questions and honestly, they are difficult ones to navigate. He says it is sometimes difficult to know how to shepherd people on some of these things. However, something important to point out is that in Christianity, there is a unity that's been created by God, in salvation that is fixed and unchangeable. As believers in Jesus Christ, we are one. Jesus prayed for this, and the Father answered that prayer. There is a unity that we have, that even when we are not living it out, it still exists, and Heaven will reflect that. However, there are some non-negotiable terms of fellowship that have to do with us being believers. Some issues will be deal breakers when it comes to whom we consider to be our brother or sister and with those whom we can walk with in the most general kind of Christian fellowship. Beyond that, you move to the realm of the local church. You can also have a group of like-minded churches who will be able to fellowship together because of their like-mindedness. But the idea that you’re going to have unanimity of opinion about everything in the world across Christendom is just an unrealistic expectation. So if we ask where can we find true unity, the answer would be in the Christian family and the Christian church, one local church at a time. It’s in each local church that we live and walk together according to the standards of the Bible, according to the big-picture items where we are like-minded and where we aim to be charitable about things that aren’t so clear, and always remembering the importance of peace. Dr. Caldwell shares the Apostle Paul's appeal to the Philippian believers to work together to get along. He tells us that the way that Paul goes about this is what will help us get along; it is remembering our common work in the Lord and that our names are written in the book of life. He reminds us that we are members of the same family, we have the same Lord, the same truth, the same Holy Spirit, we are headed to the same home, and we have the same work assigned to us. Dr. Caldwell believes it is in these ways we have hope of walking together.

Beyond the local congregation setting, when we think about other churches and all the rest, there are going to be matters of differences where our fellowship together in ministry might prove to be limited. What those are will be measured differently by pastors and churches. We can acknowledge each other as brothers and sisters and love each other as fellow believers. But, if we are going to do ministry together, there needs to be enough like-mindedness that we are not pulling against one another as we’re seeking to do the work of Christ with the gospel.

Dr. Caldwell explains that what happens in these heated debates and arguments is that we forget the preeminence of love. He reminds us of 1 Corinthians 13 and our need to remember what Paul has to say here. We forget that with love comes the fruit of the Spirit. Where genuine love is being practiced, the Spirit of God is leading us. Where the Spirit of God is leading us, there is fruit. We will see the fruit of gentleness, patience, and kindness manifested in our behaviors and attitudes. We forget that these things matter, that the Lord is standing at the door and that we will have to give an account to Him for our words, attitudes, and behaviors.