This is a trustworthy saying

No matter when or where you may be there always seems to be one controversy or another brewing within the church. Despite the universal pleas throughout the New Testament calling for unity among the brethren, it seems that Satan finds new and creative ways to keep us divided. In the 1st Century church, it was issues associated with the Jewish law – circumcision, genealogies, unclean foods, and religious celebrations. In the post-apostolic period it was gnosticism. In the medieval church, it was corruption. Then came the reformation... In the 18th and 19th centuries, it was rationalism. In the mid/late 20th century it was eschatology (i.e. end times). Beginning in the 1980s and since, there have been the televangelist scandals. Today, we seem to have a buffet of controversies to choose from: worship style, Calvinism vs. Arminianism, 10 Commandments in public buildings, you name it. Not to say that some of these issues are not important, but has Christianity ever been more divided and balkanized?

Don’t get me wrong. I’m all about seeking the truth of God’s word, but I often wonder why we make such big deals about certain things – to the point of dividing the Body of Christ. Not long agao, I was having a conversation with a man I barely knew and he called me a “heretic” because I suggested that in God’s sovereignty He chooses to allow us freedom of choice. As you might imagine that threw some pretty icy water on what would have otherwise been a budding new relationship between believers. Now I don’t claim to be a theological expert on the sovereignty of God and its relationship to our will (maybe I will one day, but not today), but I don’t think what I said was heresy…

… or was it?

In Galatians chapter 1, Paul says that anyone who preaches a gospel other than the one he preached should be “eternally condemned.” Yikes! That’s pretty tough. I definitely do not want to fall into that category. At what point, though, do legitimate differences in the interpretation of scripture become differences in the gospel itself? I doubt very many Christians would think that differing opinions regarding the end of the world would constitute differences in the gospel. Similarly, most Christians would think that pluralism (i.e. there are multiple paths into heaven) is a fairly significant compromise of the gospel. However, what about differences with respect to eternal security? What about differences with respect to Glossolalia (speaking in tongues)? Where does the core of the absolute gospel end and interpretive doctrine begin? At what point have we crossed the line from legitimate differences of opinion to heresy?

The other day, I was reading 1 Timothy and came across the phrase “Here is a trustworthy saying” at 1 Timothy 1:15. It caught my eye, but not my attention. Then I saw it again at 1 Timothy 3:1… then again at 1 Timothy 4:9. Now it had my attention. If Paul thought something was trustworthy enough to tell you “this is trustworthy,” then maybe we ought to listen. A quick search showed that Paul was the only author in the Bible to use those words and he only did so 5 times… the 3 above plus 2 Timothy 2:11 and Titus 3:8. Sounds like study time. Of the 5, one of them (1 Tim 3:1) deals with qualifications of a pastor (I need to pay attention to that since I am studying to become one). The other 4, however, reveal something kind of neat.

1 Timothy 1:15 – Christ came into the world to save sinners. (NIV)
1 Timothy 4:9 - we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe. (NIV)
2 Timothy 2:11-12 - If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. (NIV)

Do you see it yet? Look at it in Titus…

Titus 3:8 (Titus 3:8 actually refers back to verses 3-7) - At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. (NIV)

Now do you see it? Paul is essentially saying this: There are some highly complicated mysteries in scripture, but there is one thing that you can trust in: The gospel is simple. We are sinners. In fact, we are dead in our sins. We have no hope except this: God loves us. In his love, he sent Jesus Christ to die for our sins. By his grace, he can save us if we believe and put our faith in Jesus. When we do, we become alive in him (which means we live in and for him) and ultimately receive eternal life because of him. How much simpler could it be?

Richard Baxter said “Unity in things Necessary, Liberty in things Unnecessary, and Charity in all.” I am so glad that the necessary, trustworthy things are so simple. I just wish we could be more charitable about everything else.