“I love the bridegroom, but have you seen the bride?” – John Wimber
Here is an exhaustive list of what I would consider to be Biblical reasons to shun another brother or sister:
Here is a non-exhaustive list of the reasons that I have observed that Christians shun another brother or sister:
- They sin differently from me
- They are not like me
- They think different things about some things to me
Hmmm.
Unity
For the early church fathers and mothers, unity was absolutely paramount. Staying together even if we disagree was the priority. Schism (the church splitting) was the worst sin. Since the reformation, there have been 2-3 new denominations a week, the vast majority being as a result of disagreement. The Southern Baptists in America split from the Baptists because the Baptists voted to allow blacks into their churches.
Wow, you can just imagine the party in heaven over that decision.!
The Vineyard was formed when Wimber and his housegroup were “invited” to leave the Quaker church because they were moving in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
In this very city, one church was started in the last ten or so years when people left another church in protest over the church starting to do social action, which, in their mind was a clear sign of them “going liberal”.
I personally know two leaders of National Christian institutions who have to hide what they believe about certain issues because they will lose funding or support or partner churches if they found out. Not that their views are in any way heretical or in any way contravene the creeds but they do challenge conservative evangelical views (which, if you remember from previous posts, is only 10-20% of Christians worldwide).
I was speaking to a friend yesterday who said that he has changed his view on an area of theology and now people are shunning him because of it. Again. Not heretical, just not conservative evangelical.
Why are Christians SOOOOO horrible to each other?
I really do not know.
Look. If you believe something about something and someone else believes something else about it then, by all means, discuss it, even argue about it, but ultimately, even if you think the other person is a total plonker for thinking that, don’t bust up with them.
Don’t right them off.
Don’t assume that because they are wrong (in your humble opinion) on this, they must be dodgy.
I have a friend and he is about the most Calvinistic, conservative, right-wing Christian I have ever met. We argue about everything. He tells me that Catholics cannot be Christians. He tells me that Jesus does, indeed, “save us from what he is going to do to us if we do not let him in.” It is difficult to imagine anyone who’s views are more opposite to mine, but he is my friend. I want to tear my hair out when I hear the things that he says (particularly as nothing about his life supports his theology – thank goodness), but he is my friend.
Its Okay to Disagree.
Remember, the creeds are a unifying statement. These are the things that they could agree on as the fundamentals. The fact that they are so non-specific about several things tells us that the views were already so varied by that stage that this was all they could agree on. But its okay.
The creeds are essentially the non-negotiables of our faith. They were one of the measures for including the books into the New Testament canon. Contrary to conservative evangelical dogma, anything other than these statements is not a salvation or core issue of Christianity and to claim so is to actually alter the foundation of our faith into something new.
If we disagree about women in leadership, that’s fine. I will try to convince you of my position, but we can still be friends and just because you are wrong (joke) about that, does not mean that you are wrong about everything.
If we disagree about heaven and hell that is also fine. I will try to convince you of my position, but we can still be friends and just because you are wrong about that, does not mean that you are wrong about everything.
If we disagree about LGBT issues I will try to convince you of my position, but we can still be friends and just because you are wrong about that, does not mean that you are wrong about everything.
If we disagree about the story of creation, I will try to convince you of my position, but we can still be friends and just because you are wrong about that, does not mean that you are wrong about everything.
If you treat people as less than human, then I will have something to say, but that is different.
So, take my exhaustive list of valid reasons to shun brothers and sisters and use that as a guide for future (and past) interactions. Maybe you need to make recompense somewhere or to someone? Go and do it. Quick as you can.
As I look back over my life I realise that the most embarrassing stands that I have taken on issues were the times when I was most certain that I knew.
So hold your views lightly, in an open hand… and always be humble enough to recognise that you might be wrong. (and for goodness sake, don’t fall out over them because that is just plain stupid!)
One Comment
People tend to see others from the other persons view point sometimes, and this can be misunderstood, rather than taking into account how they are in personalitiy. I agree, although I’ve been a plonker plenty of times, not on purpose. Being open minded,tactful and thoughful is a gift I think for every situation/view point. A friend is a friend meaning taking that person and excepting them for who they are. Even if they are different from you. The world is made of very different personalities and that is great! I think try to learn from them instead of shunning, its Really funny often two opposing personalities strangely have alot of simularies also, I’ve noticed. But just my view.