"Unity or Doctrine?"

I am a frequent “guest panelist” at a very liberal seminary in Seattle. But I have been told that my belief that the Bible is the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27), is somewhat disturbing and “dis-unifying.”

Some time ago, I came across a sermon by Pastor Sam Crabtree, Executive Pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis titled, Do Mature Christians Pursue Unity or Do They Pursue Doctrine? Here is an excerpt:

“This is of course a trick question, though not tricky. Paul's instructions are plain that we are to pursue both unity and doctrine. Further, pursuing both at the same time will be one indication that growth is occurring. ‘...till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God (Eph 4:13-14).”

Some see doctrine as divisive, discordant, and disagreeable. Others see the avoidance of doctrinal clarity as the slippery slope to the church's undoing. So how can Christians grow in unity without compromising the church's foundations for unity, and yet simultaneously press for clarity in doctrine without becoming quarrelsome?

One way is by contending in love; that is, standing for truth in the face of error. ‘...but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ…’ (Eph 4:15). People who grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ are the same ones becoming increasingly ready apologists for God's truth in order to graciously benefit God's people, balancing courageous firmness with tender love. One need not be a busybody or a burdensome crank in order to correct someone for their sake. This is what Paul did in corresponding with the Galatians and Ephesians. He contended, but without being contentious…His was an attitude of pastoral contention, battling for doctrinal essentials but for the sake of the people in beholding God's glory. There is a holy tenacity that defends truth, even at great personal risk.

Such contending for truth is pivotal if the aim of evangelism and missions is worship. Worship presupposes knowledge. To worship God in truth is to approach him on the basis of his self-disclosure. To get a wrong answer to the question ‘What is God like?’ is to go down a path of ignorance or superstition or idolatry… worship must be rigorously informed by revelation…There will be little unity in corporate worship if we sweep away precision in understanding just which God it is we are worshipping.”[1]

I persuaded one of the distinguished pastors on our advisory board to take my place at the seminary last month. He contacted me within a day or so following the event to tell me his hosts were very gracious. When I raised the question of their theology, he said, “They are clearly whack-jobs.” We both had a good laugh.

The Christian Coalition was established “to encourage and equip the Church to be an effective, well-informed voice for moral clarity in a rapidly changing culture.” Thank you for helping us accomplish that mission.

[1] Sam Crabtree, Do Mature Christians Pursue Unity or Do They Pursue Doctrine?, 7/6/1999, www.desiringGod.org