Division in Today's Church

Pastor James McDonald has written a great post about division within the church.

http://familyreformation.wordpress.com/2009/04/28/a-step-toward-winning-the-battle-loving-each-other-amid-differences/

I agree with him, the state of the church in America today is truly concerning. I believe the same spirit of rugged individualism that played such a large role in the birth of this country has also fostered quite a bit of Protestant division over the centuries. These days, people have initiated and supported church splits over matters of sheer preference, such as worship music, or whether or not the church changes venues, or how the church collects offerings. There is often precious little humility in evidence during times like these, precious little desire to elevate the interests of others above one’s own interests per Phil. 2:3-4.

How much more likely is division, then, when earnest and sincere Christians have honest differences in doctrine? This is why I believe that the family reformation concept that Pastor McDonald and others are advancing is so critical to the church today, because it provides a model and a possible solution. A longer-term one, to be sure, but as John Wesley said, “Give me 100 men, filled with the Holy Spirit, and I will take all of England for the Lord.” How much more, then, for hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of Godly families?

When we consider the question of whether we can have fellowship with another believer who differs with us in doctrine, what's the first thing that comes to mind? It isn't worship music, is it? Or how far their church is from us? Or how their church collects offerings? Is it even a more controversial doctrine, such as the miraculous gifts, or eschatology, or baptism, or soteriology?

I don't know what the first question is for you, but for me, it's whether that professing believer has a true and earnest and passionate LOVE for the God of the Bible. If so, then with love, and patience, and the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God, I believe most things will work themselves out. Much of the time, a doctrinal difference springs from ignorance, and I've typically found that it's best to instruct ignorance, while saving rebukes for rebellion.

If there is true salvation, and a sense of humility and teachability, and a reliance on the Word, and the indwelling Holy Spirit, and a local Body that practices the one anothers, I believe all things are possible. And all the more so when the ties that bind the local Body together are generational ones, formed of blood and love, with fathers and mothers who raise up their children in the fear of the Lord, and embracing Biblical gender roles, all on the same common foundation, that strongest bedrock of Jesus Christ.

Romans 15:5-6 - Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.