| Sermon Thought by PKD Lee |
Acts 2:42 - And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
John 13:34-35 - A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
In the early church, we see from Paul’s epistles as well as the other epistles the doctrinal controversies that existed in the church. God gives us two commands that seem to contradict each other.
The first is to watch our doctrine, and make sure that no heresy creeps in. The other is that church must be a model of love and community. So, the question arises how do I handle heresy and deviations with love?
Paul makes one observation that some things which are wrong are not sins or against God, but rather a mistaken attempt to please God. In Romans 14:1 Paul refers to these Christians as weaker brethren and says do not dispute with them. Leave them in their beliefs which are not harmful. What are some of these which have become barriers to the love we are meant to have as a testimony to the world? Women must wear white clothes; men must not have long hair; we must worship on Saturday; we must speak in tongues; and the list can go on. These are mainly practices, rather than beliefs. But there are some beliefs which also divide us. What are some of these beliefs which split the church? Adult baptism versus child baptism; predestination and extreme Calvinism versus Armininan, there is no such thing as speaking in tongues today versus one is not saved unless he or she speaks in tongues and so on. Here also if we truly practice the love which we are meant to have as a church you avoid disputes and let each have their own views.
But some views affect our salvation and these need to be disputed. These mainly relate to the nature of Jesus and the work He did on the cross. Others like antinomianism or the belief that there is no law and so our life does not matter in the light of the cross are also heresies the apostles opposed. These heresies Paul and the apostles opposed and fought against. So, what is our response to this situation?
Firstly, we need to study the Bible and be clear about that is needed for salvation and what is good to have. Secondly, when people came to dispute with Jesus, as a policy Jesus did not answer and moved on. When people came with a genuine question, Jesus responded. This is a policy we should adopt – avoid controversy and arguments, but be involved in genuine debates and seeking. Where some members of the church are propagating a doctrine that undermines the work of Jesus in delivering us from sin and the power of sin, we need to vigorously oppose them, like Jesus did.
Comments