Have you ever been in an argument with yourself. I’m in a conflict with myself. We desperately need to take a stand in the evil day we live in. As a matter of fact, we are told in Eph 6:13-14a Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore. The significance of standing is spelled out in scripture concerning many things. We should stand for the cause of Christ. We should stand for the message of salvation. We should stand for the authority of the Word of God. We should stand against the ungodliness and sin of our age. We should stand for sound doctrine and against false doctrine. These things are taught in the word of God. However, I am almost sickened by the targeting of the people of God inside our own army.
When the bible speaks directly to an issue that we face in the church, such as lifestyles that are in violation of God’s holiness, then the path is clear as to what we need to do. But when there is a difference of doctrine that does not affect the essentials of salvation or the person of Jesus Christ as the only Savior of the world, that is not the time to target someone for destruction. I agree with some concerning doctrines but cannot stand with them because of their zealous fire in targeting others in the body. There is a difference between correcting a doctrine or teaching and turning some over as if they are of Satan.
Dishonor is far worse than bad doctrine when that doctrine does not contradict the fundamentals of the faith. There are many who make a career out of destroying others on a doctrine while paying no attention to the fires burning in our land and the sin that is destroying our country.
Many doctrines in the bible are interpreted differently by a lot of believers. If some don’t share my belief in a Rapture of the Church, or their timing of the Rapture is different than when I place that event, does not give us the biblical permission to dismiss that person from usefulness in the kingdom of God. There are varying views on many doctrines. Predestination, gifts of the Spirit, the doctrine of Israel, the doctrine of the Church, sanctification, separation, the security of the believer, and many other doctrines are interpreted differently by different ones in the body. To mark people who are different than you while they hold to the fundamentals of the virgin birth, the sinless life of Christ, the blood atonement through the cross, and the bodily resurrection of Christ is a dishonor to those you serve with.
I would choose to walk with someone with a minor doctrine that I would differ with them about who would be honorable during warfare than to walk with someone who I agreed with on every doctrine that would be so dishonorable as to destroy others in the body over minor differences of doctrine.
We are at war, and the rallying cry is for the people of God to endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Let's stop shooting our own troops.
Comments