Proverbs 14:4 (NLT), Without oxen, a stable stays clean.
Every church has people. Every church has the potential to be messy. Without oxen, a stable stays clean. Without people, the church wouldn’t exist. Last time, we explored two examples of messiness in Scripture:
Jesus’ Messy Disciples: They were imperfect and had different personalities, just like us.
Jesus’ Messy Churches: The New Testament letters were written to messy churches.
Watch or listen to part one online.
Paul’s answer to mess is unity (1 Corinthians 1:10):
Definition of unity? – “Love despite difference.”
Unity is not Uniformity.
Romans 12:16, Live in harmony with one another.
Differences should be celebrated cos we’re all related.
Unity is not agreement on everything.
German Lutheran theologian Rupertus Meldenius, “In essentials unity, In non-essentials liberty, In all things charity.” 1627.
In essentials unity:
Christians disagree on many things, but we all have one thing in common. It’s what scripture calls The Faith. The faith is that which focuses on Jesus Christ. All Christians can unify on the person and work of Jesus, the Son of God.
In non-essentials liberty:
Calling a truth ‘non-essential’ does not mean it’s unimportant, but that it doesn’t affect our salvation.
Christians even disagree on the two signs of our unity in Christ: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper:
The Salvation Army doesn’t celebrate either: “Unlike most other Christian denominations, The Salvation Army does not observe the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion. The Salvation Army believes it is possible to experience the inward grace of which the sacraments are outward signs without the need for the rituals themselves.”
Baptism: When and how much water (Or oil):
The Oil of Catechumens, also known as the Oil of Exorcism, is the oil used in some traditional Christian churches during baptism; it is believed to strengthen the one being baptized to turn away from evil, temptation and sin. (Rubbed on the baby’s chest)
Lord’s Supper: Communion, Holy Communion, Eucharist, Holy Sacrament, the Lord’s Table.
Wine or grape juice.
Intinction: To dip the bread in the wine or grape juice.
One cup or individual cups.
One loaf or individual wafers.
Unleavened bread (leaven is a type for sin in Scripture)
Transubstantiation – the bread and wine are transformed into the body & blood of Christ. (Eastern Catholic, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox Churches, along with the Assyrian Church of the East).
Consubstantiation – the body and blood of Christ are present in the bread and wine, but the bread and wine do not “transform.”
Paul wrote the letter to the Roman church to help settle conflicts between Gentile & Jewish believers who were clashing over non-essentials:
Romans 14:1-7, Accept the one whose faith is weak without quarrelling over disputable matters. 2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.
3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.
5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. 6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone.
Romans 15:2-3; 5-7, Each of us should please our neighbours for their good, to build them up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself.
5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
And so, each of you has the freedom to establish your thoughts and beliefs on matters that don’t affect salvation. In non-essentials, there’s liberty, but don’t be selfish with your freedom. Look out for others to build them up in their faith, and don’t just please yourself.
Some things to consider:
• Have discussions, but don’t argue.
• Be curious and ask questions.
• Don’t attempt to convert someone to your way of thinking.
• Never use the Scriptures to shut down a conversation.
• Realise the Bible is primarily a book of questions, not answers.
• When there is tension between two or more viewpoints, it can and should lead you to a deeper understanding of Scripture.
• Listen to others and to the Holy Spirit and learn.
• Our beliefs on the non-essentials may change over time.
Over the years, I have changed my view on many things, but I cling fast to the essentials of our faith. I believe in God; I trust in Jesus. I believe Jesus lived and died and rose again for the salvation of all people who call on Him. “In essentials unity, In non-essentials liberty, and finally:
In all things charity:
This model of relating to the sacred Scriptures allows Christians to interact with one another in freedom and love, being true to their understanding of the Scriptures and allowing others the same opportunity.
I like the principle of deed over creed. That is, how we behave is more important than what we believe or do not believe about various Bible doctrines:
You can believe “right” but behave “wrong.” The classic example of this in Scripture is the Pharisees. The Pharisees had a lot going for them in the faith department:
• They took their relationship with God seriously.
• They were theologically orthodox.
• hey had a high view of Scripture.
• They fully and meticulously carried out every rule and regulation.
• They attended synagogue and were committed to communal worship.
The Pharisees had many of the qualities that we would expect to find in any faithful Christian. But they were also legalistic, self-righteous, and critical. They were “right” about everything. Their view was the correct one, and anyone who disagreed with them was flat-out wrong. They had the creed covered, but their deeds lacked love, grace, and kindness. And that’s why we witness Jesus butting heads with these guys throughout the gospels:
Matthew 9:13, But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Q. Did they do their homework? (Hosea 6:6)
Sadly, it appears not. In Matthew 12, the Pharisees accuse Jesus & the disciples of violating Scripture. Jesus responds, If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. (Matthew 12:7).
What Jesus teaches is this: Your actions are more important than your beliefs. Deed over creed. You can be theologically accurate but a horrible person and totally miss the point of Jesus’ mission. The most important thing, Jesus said, was to love God and love your neighbour as yourself, to treat others as you would like them to treat you. Deed over creed. Thank you, Rupertus Meldenius, for your 17th-century wisdom, “In essentials unity, In non-essentials liberty, In all things charity.”
Discussion Questions
Have any of your beliefs on non-essential Bible teachings may changed over time? Which one(s), and why did they change? What difference has it made in how you express your faith and interact with others?
Discuss the concept of harmony as it applies to the differences we find among us (Romans 12:16).
Discuss Paul’s words to the Philippians Christian: “Be free from pride-filled opinions, for they will only harm your cherished unity.’ (Philippians 2:3 TPT)
Read Romans 14:1-7 and 15:2-3; 5-7 and discuss the various principles that relate to our unity despite our differences.
Discuss the principle of deed over creed. How could this principle help you behave in a Christlike way? Consider Matthew 9:13 and Matthew 12:7 in your answers.
Listen to and discuss the Digging Deeper Podcast episode 21 on Sabbath, Food, and the Seventh Day Adventist Church as an example of how Christians can respectfully differ on non-essential beliefs.
Feel free to enjoy Communion together and celebrate it in a way that the group agrees on.
Read, reflect, and discuss The Nicene Creed:
We believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
begotten from the Father before all ages,
God from God,
Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made;
of the same essence as the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven;
he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary,
and was made human.
He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered and was buried.
The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again with glory
to judge the living and the dead.
His kingdom will never end.
And we believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life.
He proceeds from the Father and the Son,
and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified.
He spoke through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.
We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look forward to the resurrection of the dead,
and to life in the world to come. Amen.