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SOR Faculty Publications and Presentations

1983

Doctrinal Differences: Do they Matter?

Edward Hindson Liberty University, [email protected]

Ed Dobson

Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/sor_fac_pubs

Recommended Citation Hindson, Edward and Dobson, Ed, "Doctrinal Differences: Do they Matter?" (1983). SOR Faculty Publications and Presentations. 141. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/sor_fac_pubs/141

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Crossing. It has been accepted for inclusion in SOR Faculty Publications and Presentations by an authorized administrator of Scholars Crossing. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Doctrinal Differences: don on ( 10 years t by Ed Dobson and Ed Hindson Do They Matter? yet to b liberal c lions.

he threat of persecution has always brought about suppression of religious variety in favor of a state greater Christian unity and purged the carnality of One of the criticisms of the medieval against - T the church. Anyone who has ever preached in the Luther was that he would open a "Pandora's Box" of religious lithe' Third World countries cannot help but be impressed with the beliefs if he were to take the authority of the church and place deep sincerity of the church there. Because of the overwhelm­ it in the hands of a common layman having the right to inter~ imprE ing effects of war and poverty, there exists a brand of Chris­ pret the for himself. Luther's response was, "Better that comil tianity that surpasses anything known in the United States than the evils of ecclesiastical tyranny!" I exterl today. are extremely serious imd dedicated to serv­ While the differences that divide us may seem trivial to a" cenh'j ing our Lord . There is very little talk of the kind non-Christian, those differences mark a unique and distinC:!"abOU1 of frivolities that so often characterize American churches. tive contribution of the various aspects of American Chris· .,of the Third World Christians are not interested in programs tianity. The formal state religious atmosphere of Europe ~ and promotions, nor easier ways to convince people of the certainly foreign to the vibrant and virile forms of Christiani'I'., ___ . Rather, they are interested in a deep and personal ty in America. We have historic denominations such as BalY relationship with the living Christ. Everywhere there is tist, , Episcopalian, Lutheran, Methodist, and evidence of a dynamic church which attracts thousands by Presbyterian. We also have distinctive varieties within these I Whilt the quality of the lives of Christian believers. While some un­ mainline denominations: Southern Methodist, Orthodox I some, doubtedly attempt to use the poverty of the church in the Presbyterian, Reformed Episcopalian, Conservative Baptist,' his own Third World to promote the efforts of conciliation as an end and Missouri Lutheran, to name but a few. In fact, fight 0' in itself, it is also apparent that genuine togetherness is being "Becaust experienced by believers of all types. One put it this .. importaJ way: "When bullets are flying overhead, you do not bother to Hhen it 1 ask someone what his theological beliefs are if he is a brother If the Bible is important to one's i, and in Christ." Christian , then it matters greatly . expressic Under such pressure, the church of Jesus Christ has often to him what it says and what it means. learned the true meaning oflove, joy, and peace. Churches in many parts of the world today do not have the luxury to disagree, which we have in the United States. Because of prosperity and affluence, the American church has had the there are over one hundred kinds of in the opportunity to grow and expand to great proportions, while States alone! maintaining great doctrinal differences that undoubtedly will Beyond the mainline denominations we have remain at the core of our unique expression of the Christian scores of smaller denominations, , and : . It is highly unlikely, apart from external persecution, Apostolic, Brethren, Christadelphian, the Church of that American Christians will bury their differences in the , Friends, Jehovah's Witnesses, __ ~,nll'"'" decade or even the century ahead! Mormon, Nazarene, Pentecostal, Unitarian, etc. One not have to agree with these various expressions of '_;nl";,$llm'r~ Division Is the Distinctive belief to appreciate the liberty to choose to believe of Democracy one wishes according to the dictates of his own In a free democratic society, where every individual has Conciliation or Compromise? opportunity to hold his own distinct belief and practice, we have experienced the rise of virtually hundreds of religious Beyond the basic denominational labels that separate denominations. While this certainly may seem confusing to as Christian believers in this country, there are also a some, it is definitely better than the alternative, which is the of theological labels that divide us. It is naive to believe

p FUNDAMENTALIST reat theological issues separating tian love and forgiveness, or whether it the Charismatic Movement in the h g tedC Ivinists an A rmmlans,.. Ch'ansmat- was a compromise with weakness and 1960s and 1970s. With emphasis on the . aand non-Charismatics, Fundamen­ infidelity. Throughout her history experience of receiving the of lC~istS and Liberals will be reconciled these two issues have been a matter of the and the resultant ex­ fa'thin our lifetime, let alone within the concern to Christian believers. pression of the gift of tongues,

'ill twenty years of this century. At- Charismatics tend to take the attitude ~t Cooperation or Confusion? a(l1pts at conCl'1' latory movements h ave that "doctrine divides, love unites." rebeen many and' vane d' m recent years. Christians favoring cooperation Non-Charismatics cannot underesti­ The so-called Ecumenical Movement despite denominational differences mate the tremendous conciliatory im­ ttempted to unify the various mainline have normally tended to emphasize pact that the Charismatic Movement is denominations in the 1960s. An off­ unity based on a common commitment making on American . ences: shoot of this attemp~ was the Consulta­ to Christ. However, the understanding Charismatic television, radio, Bible tion on Church Umon (COCU). After of this matter has varied greatly with studies, businessmen's meetings, etc., 20 years the Ecumenical Movement has different ecclesiastical and theological have leaped over the barrier of religious atter? yet to bring together even the more movements. The early days of the and denominational ecclesiasticism liberal of our Protestant denomina­ twentieth century saw Fundamentalists right into the living room of the dons. of all denominational stripes rally average American. Isolated from his together around the cardinal doctrines 8f a state . of the Christian faith (the inspiration rch against Martin of Scripture, the Virgin Birth and deity l'S Box" of religious liThe world will not be of Christ, His substitutionary atone­ Unity and cooperation e church and place impressed by a mere ment, His literal Resurrection and His among true Christians g the right to inter. ). In those days, Fun­ must always be based ~ was, "Better that, coming together in damentalism brought together men of externals while there is diverse backgrounds such as J. upon adherence to the ly seem trivial to a central disagreement Gresham Machen, Clarence Macartney essential doctrines of the mique and distinc· about the fundamentals (Presbyterian),]. Frank Norris, William Bible. f American Chris· of the faith." Bell Riley (Baptist), and Bob Jones, Sr. )here of Europe is (Methodist). In the early days of Fun­ 8rms of Christiani· damentalism, the movement was ltions such as Bap· united by its distinctive belief in the denominational affiliation, the viewer Methodist, and divinity of Christ, the inspiration of the is challenged to examine Christian :ieties within these While this may seem disconcerting Scriptures, and the necessity of per­ belief for himself. Without a doubt the hodist, Orthodox to some, one writer recently answered sonal conversion, etc. Charismatic Movement has done more nservative Baptist, his own question: "Why do Christians Even before the Fundamentalist to de-emphasize doctrinal differences but a few. In fact, fight over the Bible?" His reply: controversy, some Christian groups among varying Christian groups than "Because they believe it!" If the Bible is were emphasizing "No but any other religious movement in the important to one's Christian belief, Christ; no law but love." While certain­ twentieth century. While this may be a then it matters greatly to him what it ly not denying the centrality of the doc­ cause of great rejoicing to Charis­ ne's says and what it means. If his religious trine of the person and work of Christ, matics, it is a cause of great concern to ers greatly expression can do without the Bible, these more moderate evangelicals were Fundamentalists who fear that the doc­ [i it means. one is more likely to accommodate willing to work with those of varying trinal beliefs upon which the Christian other beliefs regarding doctrinal mat­ denominational and theological com­ faith is founded may well be swept aside ters. mitments. In time the issue of concilia­ in the rising torrent of "conciliation at From the earliest times of church tion reached its apex in two different all costs." history debates have always waged be­ and distinctive arenas. The first was in tists in the United Christianity and the Centrality tween the issues of conciliation and regard to the issue of Cooperative of Truth we have literally compromise. In the early days of the related to the crusade d cults: Adventist, Church, Roman persecution drove ministry of Evangelist Billy Graham. It was Martin Lloyd Jones who Church of Christ, many fringe followers of Christ into His willingness to cooperate with observed, back in 1962, that "truth 1esses, Mennonite, hiding or compromise with the pagan known liberals for the cause of alone creates unity." In his book The an, etc. One does State. When the persecution lapsed, the spreading in major citywide Basis of Christian Unity, he argued that essions of religioUS church was faced with the issue of what became an issue of great con­ unity can never be isolated or regarded o believe whatever to do with these betrayers of Christ tention among Fundamentalists and as something in and of itself. He ob­ s own conscience. now seeking forgiveness and readmis­ Evangelicals alike. For all practical pur­ served that unified fellowship followed s~on into the church. This resulted in poses, this issue became the watershed the unity of doctrine among the early t e now famous "Donatist 'Controver- that divides from disciples. He further observed that the sy" . 1 Is that separate US " 111 which the ear y Christians even today. starting point in considering the ques­ : are also a number ~ecarne divided over whether concilia­ The second arena of contention was tion of unity must always be regenera­ live to believe that tion Was a genuine expression of Chris- that of the sudden, explosive growth of tion resulting from belief of the truth.

13 --- Otherwise, the church develops nothing more than a facade essential Christian doctrines, was not a new form of Ch ' of unity based on an external, rather than an internal, basis tianity-it was not real Christianity at all! fi,. of cooperation. He warned then: "The world will not be im­ Unity and cooperation among true Christians In USt pressed by a mere coming together in externals while there is always be based upon adherence to the essential doctrines central disagreement about the fundamentals of the faith." the Bible. That commitment gave birth to Since truth and error cannot be reconciled, it behooves in the first place. Jesus said, "Ye shall know the truth, and the Christian today to take a long and serious look at the truth shall make you free" Oohn 8:32). Christianity finds very reason and desire to see unity within the church. The freedom in the truth, not from the truth. We can never su. lE. question the world is still asking is "What is Christianity?" render true biblical convictions for the convenience of co~. There cannot be true unity without the foundation of the ciliation. We cannot drop our principles for popularity. It great doctrines of the Christian faith. Machen observed over the truth that changes lives, and it is the truth that King James 50 years ago that Liberal , with its denial of the always be the basis of true Christian unity. o ENTIRE E o ENTIRE ( o ENTIRE ~ o PSALMS

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WHO SAlD THAT?

he American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and seek not vengeance, but the establishment of . other groups want Americans to believe that the order in which the Spirit of Christ shall rule the hearts T founding of our nation, and its direction ever since, men and of nations. We won't get a free world in any way." The author of that "intolerant" remark was has been for a totally secular purpose-that religion and You \J religious people were and are to be kept out of government Delano Roosevelt. and relegated to churches and synagogues. Guess who said this: "Without there could be While rummaging through a desk drawer at home the American form of government, nor an American way of' other day I discovered quotes from some of our former leaders Recognition of the Supreme Being is the first-the who obviously did not share this ACLU view of America. basic-expression of Americanism. Thus the Ri Guess who said this: "Our success in striving to help our Fathers of America saw it, and thus with God's help, it Wend fellow-man, and therefore to help ourselves, depends largely continue to be" (Dwight D. Eisenhower). upon our success as we strive, with whatever shortcomings, Finally, there is this: "Jesus Christ preached the Law B with whatever failures, to lead our lives in accordance with the prophets-the twentieth chaper of Exodus, the the great ethical principles laid down in the life of Christ, and chaper of Deuteronomy, the preachings of Amos, in the writings which seek to expound His Isaiah, and Jeremiah. Study the on the Mount, Six COil teachings." This violator of church-state separation was fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters of the Gospel according Theodore Roosevelt. St. Matthew, the tenth chapter of St. Luke, and then Or how about this: "There are great problems before the back to Matthew chapter n and find obedience to the law Fe American people. I would be afraid to go forward if I did not the land." believe there lay at the foundation of all our schooling and all On another occasion this person said, "The Old T our thought the incomparable and unimpeachable Word of ment and the New will give you a way of life that will ForM God." That imposer of morality on others was none other you to live happily." His name? Harry Truman. than Woodrow Wilson. A secular nation that is not supposed to be influenced Or this: "We shall win this war, and in Victory we shall religion? I don't think so.

14 FUNDAMEf\IT AlIST