Drew Boswell

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Peace With Bad Doctrine is not a True Peace

Should We Disrupt the Peace of the Church in Order to Deal With A Doctrinal Issue? 

You don’t have to be a church leader for very long before you realize that you get a whole lot more done when things are calm and peaceful, than when people are arguing and the church is in chaos. And it has been my experience that churches, for the most part, prefer for things to be peaceful and they strive for unity.

Recently, I have been reminded that it is the church leader’s responsibility to guard the doctrine of the church and to guide the church toward a clear understanding of why it is that the church believes what it does. Doctrines, Creeds, and Constitutions act as guard rails against disunity and conflict. They provide a space for the members of the church to express their faith in such a way that is agreed upon, and supported by the local church as a whole. Everyone is in agreement on what this church is, what it is to do, what members are to do, who is and who is not a member, leadership, etc.

So, what happens if things are calm, but there is a doctrinal issue that needs to be addressed? By dealing with the issue, it may cause conflict. But to ignore what you know to be false, in order to maintain peace is a false unity because it is not rooted in truth. The church cannot strive toward a common mission, if the mission is blurred and convoluted and the core beliefs are not supported. Doctrines, Creeds, and Constitutions actually provide a way for people of like mind to have unity. Baptists go to Baptist churches because they agree with Baptists thinking toward the Bible.

A Baptist should not go to a Methodist church and demand they do things “the Baptist way.” That assumes, of course, that people actually know what they believe. Southern Baptists have such an agreement called, The Baptist Faith and Message and many would specify which version they support (BFM 2000 for example). While SBC churches are autonomous, they have an agreed upon doctrinal statement that defines what it means to be Southern Baptist. Conflict within the SBC happens when individual churches or leaders step outside of those agreed upon beliefs and practices.

Guarding the agreed upon doctrinal beliefs and practices actually produces peace in the long run and the church accomplishes its’ biblical mandates. John Piper and NT Wright are both Christian men, pastors, authors, etc. but John Piper wrote a book addressing where he feels NT Wright is wrong on the issue of justification. So, in the opening chapters Piper addresses this issue of addressing wrong doctrine, and the cost of causing a disruption or potential disunity.

“The assumption of the entire New Testament is that we should strive for peace. Peace and unity in the body of Christ are exceedingly precious. ‘Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!’ (Psalm 133:1). ‘Seek peace and pursue it (1 Peter 3:11). ‘So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding’ (Romans 14:19). But just as clear is that we are to pursue peace by striving to come to agreement in the truth. ‘the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable’ (James 3:17). It is first pure. Peace is not a first thing. It is a derivative. It comes from a hearty agreement in truth.”[1]

Therefore, let us have sound doctrine, agreed upon practices, and peace in the body. But until we have clearly established the first two, we will not have the last.

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[1] John Piper, The Future of Justification, A Response to N.T. Wright (Wheaton, Illinois; Crossway Books, 2007) 30.

Leading While Encircled by Wolves; Galatians 1:1-24

wolf1In the opening chapters of Galatians Paul has received word that the church in Galatia has turned to a false gospel. He is astonished at how quickly these “Christians” have believed and are following a lie.

Galatians 1:6-11  “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. 10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. (ESV)

This false gospel is more-than-likely Jewish teachers who are requiring the new “believer” to be circumcised (Gal. 2:4). But why would these people who have heard and believed the true gospel be so easily persuaded by false teachers?  The distortion seems to be linked to people seeking the approval of men. These early believers were swayed by an age-old principle called “political correctness.” Instead of holding to true doctrine, they allowed their foundational beliefs to be manipulated by a desire to please men and hold to men’s traditions. You can not please man and God. Paul could not be an apostle “servant of Christ” and please men.

Mankind was created for fellowship and relationships with other people. Most emotionally mature people desire peace and an absence of disorder and chaos. So in order to keep the peace and keep relationships intact, they blur and compromise those areas where there are disagreements. Paul understands that the church needs to be intact in order that it may accomplish its’ purposes. But how does the leader address these heresies while also trying to keep the church together? If he had led as a dictator, running “rough shod” over people’s emotions and feelings, not caring how his actions or words would be felt then it would splintered into pieces. Paul, as an apostle, is correct in his doctrine and realizes that if the Galatian church continues in this heresy then there is no salvation, and the gospel would have been corrupted and would continue to corrode into traditionalism and Pharisaical behavior (that of adding requirements to the gospel).

So knowing he needs to address this wrong behavior, even while dealing with his own emotions (astonishment) he writes a letter to address it. As a leader there will be times when we will need to deal with people who are hurting the church (either in ignorance of doctrine, or willful attack). Paul gives us several things to think about in how he dealt with the situation.

Galatians 1:11-24 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace,16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!)21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me. (ESV)

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How Paul Deals With False Teachers and a Church Who Has Believed Them

1. Love People. He calls them “brothers.” He does not start with how they are different (me v. you), but how they are joined together (brothers.) He also begins with love, as in you love those within the church family.

2. Common Experience. He begins with a brief history of his own life, as in “my former life in Judaism” and how he was also “zealous for the traditions of my father.” They are still his fathers in the faith.  He shows that he has a thorough understanding of the Old Testament and the Jewish traditions.

3. Scriptural Authority. He did not consult with men as he was being called to preach to the Gentiles — they things were revealed to him. He is also careful to point out that it was after three years he went to Jerusalem (and saw no one except for James.) He was unknown among the the churches that he visited. After 14 years he went back to Jerusalem just to confirm what he was doing was not in vain. He knows and understands the true gospel because it was revealed to him form God, and it was confirmed to him in various churches all preaching the same thing.

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wolf2The gospel is God’s message to us revealed to certain men to be shared with us. It is the same gospel that goes to Peter and Jewish people who are already circumcised, and with Paul and the non-Jewish people who are uncircumcised.   In order to draw these members who had been persuaded by false teaching he appealed to love, his own experience, and his authority as an apostle (Scripture). When you approach a situation like this be loving and express how you are joined together through Christ as “brothers.” Identify with them of how you have even dealt with the same questions and concerns they have. Lastly, show from Scripture (not tradition) where they have erred in their ways. It is the ultimate authority.

Just because you have correct doctrine does not mean that you have liberty to treat people rudely, or in any way that pushes them away from this correct doctrine. If the group (i.e. Galatian Church) splinters then they are easy targets for the wolves to tear them apart.

 

 

"For by grace you have been saved through faith." Ephesians 2:8

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