If there is one thing we learn from a survey of Christian denominations, it is that Christians hold to a wide variety of views on a wide variety of matters. Of course, Christian denominations on the conservative side have widespread agreement on the essential doctrines of Christianity, including the doctrines of the Bible, God, the virgin birth, the Deity of Jesus Christ, miracles, Christ’s atoning death on the cross, the gospel of salvation, and Christ’s bodily resurrection from the dead. But there is considerable diversity on some of the nonessentials—including such matters as church government, baptism, the Lord’s Supper, the nature of the spiritual gifts, the role of women in the church, the use of musical instruments in the church, traditional hymns versus contemporary Christian music in the church, the proper day of worship (Saturday or Sunday), and the precise timing of end-time events.
As I bring this book to a close, I want to bring a unifying note—at least in regard to the more conservative denominations. I make this qualification because conservatives can hardly enjoy a sense of unity with liberal denominations who deny the inspiration of Scripture, the Deity of Jesus Christ, the virgin birth, the gospel of salvation, and all miracles—including Christ’s resurrection. A primary conviction among conservatives is that one cannot compromise on the essential doctrines of Christianity. Compromise on essentials is an essential error.
Having said that, I urge my fellow conservatives to recognize that even in the midst of our debates on the nonessentials, we need not have divisive attitudes. Let us recognize that not all diversity is bad. What if the world were all one color? What if there were only one kind of flower? No variety in animal species? Or what if there were only one kind of food? This would be a very boring world! The same is true when it comes to differences in churches. Given a basic doctrinal commonality on the essential doctrines, there is something to be said for allowing diversity within unity. This is true in many areas and for many reasons.
As a case in point, some churches divide unnecessarily over the type of music employed in their worship services, or even over the instruments used (for example, organ versus guitar). Most of this does not involve unorthodox doctrinal content. Rather, it is often just a matter of taste, not a matter of truth. On this level, diversity can be as good as many flavors of ice cream. The basic kinds are neither good nor bad in themselves, neither true nor false. Likewise, different styles of liturgy need not involve heresy. Indeed, different personalities and nationalities and even age groups are drawn to different forms of worship. Just ask missionaries or anyone who has traveled widely. This kind of diversity provides a richness and variety that provides a wider appeal to Christianity.
Moreover, even in the realm of truth, not all diversity is heresy (see Romans 14:2-5). Given that humans are finite and fallible, differences of opinion on nonessential doctrines is understandable. Although we all have our own opinions on the mode of baptism, for example, no heresy is involved in the amount of water used to baptize a person. As well, some teachings are not as important as others, and some of these teachings have much briefer coverage in Scripture, and therefore may not be as clear as others. So, for example, within the overall framework of the essential doctrine of Christ’s physical return and reign, there is room for difference of opinion on the details of the precise order of end-time events.
There is no reason that each of us cannot hold our own cherished views. There is good reason, however, that none of these nonessential teachings should be made a universal test of orthodoxy or Christian fellowship.
Regardless of whether all Christians are in full agreement with me on peripheral issues, I want to be known as a Christian who loves all other Christians. Even when I express my differing views to other Christians, I want to do it in a loving way. I want to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15).
It is not simply what we believe but how we behave that is important. Jesus certainly emphasized the importance of truth. He said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). But He also said that love, not simply truth, is the distinguishing mark of a Christian (John 13:35). One can be right in what he says and wrong in the way he says it. The true Christian should strive to be both correct and loving.
I love the writings of J.C. Ryle. In his classic book Holiness, he notes how hurtful words can be among Christians who disagree with each other, and how such hurtful words are actually self-defeating.
I must enter my protest against the sneering, taunting, contemptuous language which has been frequently used of late…To say the least, such language is unseemly, and only defeats its own end. A cause which is defended by such language is deservedly suspicious. Truth needs no such weapons. If we cannot agree with men, we need not speak of their views with discourtesy and contempt.1
Ryle thus urges us, “Let us exercise charity in our judgments of one another,” noting that to “exhibit bitterness and coldness” toward those who disagree with us on some matter “is to prove ourselves very ignorant of real holiness.”2
Theologian J.I. Packer helps us to understand the importance of charitable behavior in the body of Christ using a metaphor of a family.
How ought families—siblings, specifically brothers and sisters—to behave? Well, you are not going to deny that siblings ought to act like and look like parts of a family. If brothers and sisters never meet together, never speak to each other, appear to be entirely indifferent to each other—that is an unnatural and scandalous state. That would be true of any human family. I put it to you without fear of contradiction: the same is true of the family of God…
Divisions in the church which prevent the family from acting like one family and the body from functioning like one body…are unnatural; unnatural to the point of being shameful.”3
The better way is the way of love and charity.
I think the apostle Paul struck the perfect balance when he exhorted the Ephesians about the importance of “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). As we seek to speak the truth in love, it is entirely possible that we may eventually discover that our view on a particular matter is wrong after all, and that others have been right. Even if we are right, though, we should hold our view in humility (1 Peter 3:15). Certainly we should not sever fellowship or cease cooperation with those holding contrary views on nonessential matters.
We would do well to remember the well-known admonition, “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; and in all things, charity.” Speaking the truth in love may not always be easy, but it’s the charitable thing to do!