Mending a Fractured Church

Description

What does it really mean for the church to have unity?When Jesus prayed for his followers to be one, he prayed that this unity would demonstrate the truth of his claims to an unbelieving world. Sadly, the world often sees a church that is divided. Some of our divisions are based on legitimate theological concerns, yet many others are simply matters of opinion. To the world, it's all another reason to doubt God.What are the differences worth dividing over? How should we handle diversity?Mending a Fractured Church, edited by Michael Bird and Brian Rosner, seeks to answer such questions, looking to the Bible for examples of how to behave when Christians differ. Speaking to pastors, churches, and seminary students, the contributors provide a guide to maintaining unity without compromise.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• Christian Church
• Ecumenism

Informations

• Publié par: Lexham Press
• Date de parution: 17 novembre 2015
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781577996866
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

MENDING A FRACTURED CHURCH
How to Seek Unity with Integrity
EDITED BY MICHAEL BIRD AND BRIAN ROSNER
Mending a Fractured Church: How to Seek Unity with Integrity
Copyright 2015 Lexham Press
Lexham Press, 1313 Commercial St., Bellingham, WA 98225 LexhamPress.com
All rights reserved. You may use brief quotations from this resource in presentations, articles, and books. For all other uses, please write Lexham Press for permission. Email us at [e-mail] .
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are the author’s own translation.
Scripture quotations marked ( ASV ) are from the American Standard Version. Public domain.
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Scripture quotations marked ( LEB ) are from the Lexham English Bible, copyright 2013 by Lexham Press. Lexham is a registered trademark of Faithlife Corporation.
Scripture quotations marked ( NIV ) are from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ® . Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked ( NRSV ) are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked ( KJV ) are from the King James Version. Public domain.
Print ISBN 9781577996316
Digital ISBN 9781577996866
Lexham Editorial Team: Rebecca Brant, Lynnea Fraser
Cover Design: Christine Gerhart
CONTENTS
FOREWORD
Graham Cole
PREFACE
Brian Rosner
INTRODUCTION
Michael Bird and Brian Rosner
1. DISPUTABLE MATTERS
Constraining the Topic
Andrew S. Malone
2. UNITY MATTERS
A Study of Joshua 22:1–34
Lindsay Wilson
3. WHAT TO DO WHEN CHRISTIANS DIFFER
Disputable Matters in Romans 14:1–15:7
Brian Rosner
4. WHEN DO WE DIVIDE?
The Johannine Letters on Love and Separation
Michael F. Bird
5. DISPUTABLE MATTERS IN PROTESTANT HISTORY
How to Express Christian Freedom
Rhys Bezzant
6. REMAPPING THE CHURCH
Migration, Transnationality, and the Future Church
Peter J. Leithart
SCRIPTURE INDEX
FOREWORD
Graham Cole
When Christians disagree, how may the bonds of peace be preserved? It is so good to see an interdisciplinary approach to the question. Lindsay Wilson works in the field of the Old Testament, Brian Rosner in the New Testament, Andrew Malone in both as well as mission, Mike Bird in systematic theology, and Rhys Bezzant in church history. Lindsay Wilson tackles a key Old Testament passage ( Josh 22:1–34 ) and Brian Rosner an New Testament one ( Rom 14:1 – 15:7 ). Mike Bird offers a theological reflection on when Christians divide. Rhys Bezzant looks at relevant Protestant history on the subject. Andrew Malone sets up the discussion. They wear their scholarship lightly.
It was the Lutheran Rupertus Meldenius ( 1582–1651 ) who reputedly said: “In the essentials unity, in the non-essentials or doubtful things liberty, and in all things charity.” The three categories are so useful, but the question is what goes into each. This very helpful work, by five scholars based at Ridley College, Melbourne, assists us in navigating the way forward.
PREFACE
Brian Rosner
When the Christians in Rome were squabbling over what the Apostle Paul called “disputable matters,” he summed up his advice to them in this way: “Let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.” The implication is clear; to behave badly in such circumstances will lead to strife and demolish the church. It will also impede the progress of the gospel. Like it or not, the reputation of God and the gospel are tied to the behavior of his people.
When I became principal of Ridley College in 2012 it quickly became clear to me that Melbourne was a context in which knowing how to deal with disputable matters was an essential requirement for my work. However, finding an approach to such matters—one that did not compromise the gospel and was more than merely pragmatic—was not easy. Recognizing my own inadequacy, I turned to my colleagues.
On September 2, 2013 , we held a daylong Ridley Pastoral Seminar on the subject of disputable matters. Five members of the faculty were involved, including me. We approached the topic from the different angles of our various disciplines. Indeed, in addressing something of such practical import, both the Old Testament and New Testament, along with systematic theology and church history, have important things to say. This little book grew out of that conference.
Too often questions of church unity are decided with little theological reflection and without due attention to the whole counsel of God in Scripture. Our responses to those with whom we differ regularly arise without reflection from our experiences, personalities, and social settings, or from a few convenient proof texts. Such responses do much damage to individuals and churches. Our hope and prayer is that this slim volume will contribute to an approach that is more biblical and more theological, based on the conviction that only such an approach will lead to unity with integrity.
INTRODUCTION
Michael Bird and Brian Rosner
Southern Baptist theologian Timothy George asks the highly provocative question,
When Jesus said, “Upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it,” did he intend that the people called to bear his name in the world would eventually be divided into 37,000 competing denominations? That is the number of separate Christian bodies worldwide, according to missions statistician Todd Johnson of the World Christian Database.… Sometimes church division is a tragic necessity, and the call to Christian unity does not mean that we must blend all believers into a single homogenous unity. But neither does it allow us to relax and accept the status quo as God’s perfect will. 1
George makes a very good point. Christian churches, especially Protestants, are hopelessly divided and notoriously good at dividing. Sometimes these divisions have been triggered by seismic debates over major doctrines within the Christian faith about the nature of God, the gift of salvation, and the very meaning of the gospel. However, other debates, which can fracture fellowship and sprout entirely new denominations, are over matters that are clearly secondary. The tragedy is not only that the churches are fractured but that they are fractured over matters when they need not be. The editors of this volume do not contest the need to take decisive and potentially divisive actions when the gospel is threatened by those who have acceded to a blatantly heterodox version of the Christian faith. However, we do lament that most congregational divisions are not over primary issues and pertain instead to secondary or even tertiary subjects. In sum, we feel that churches need more than ever to heed the Apostle Paul’s charge to accept one another “without quarreling over disputable matters” ( Rom 14:1 NIV ). That is the theme of this volume.
We are not so glib as to suppose that all divisions can be ended by simply reading a couple of Bible verses, offering a hearty handshake, and sharing a casserole at a church potluck. The obvious problem is to determine what matters that can cause schism are beyond dispute, and what are the disputable matters that we are at liberty to dispute within the bounds of Christian fellowship. In other words, what we need to develop is a theological triage in relation to (1) views essential to the faith, (2) views important to the faith and order of a church but not necessary for salvation, and (3) views that may be treated with indifference , a matter of conscience, often called adiaphora . 2 Most of us will be able to agree on the primary matters like the Trinity, Jesus’ atoning death, his bodily resurrection, salvation by grace alone, and the return of the Lord Jesus. We might even be able to agree on secondary matters like baptism and church governance. We might be able to agree as to what is a tertiary matter, like whether Christians should drink alcohol, what Bible translation we should use, or whether we should fast. The real problem is how we can disagree over secondary and tertiary matters without breaking the bonds of Christian fellowship. That is the real challenge for many churches.
As a preliminary piece of advice, we would say that the New Testament, particularly 1 Corinthians 8 and Romans 14 , contains several helpful principles that we should apply to disputable matters that might arise in our churches. 3
1. Learn to differentiate between areas of conviction and areas of command.
2. Don’t major on minor doctrines or minor on majors.
3. Withhold judgment where the gospel is not threatened and holiness is not compromised.
4. Exercise your convictions to build others up, not to tear them down.
5. Do not exchange freedom in Christ for slavery to human tradition.
6. At all times act in love and carry each other’s burdens.
We believe that following the checklist above is how we can “make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification” ( Rom 14:19 NIV ). The underlying principle, as many have said before, is “In the essentials unity, in the non-essentials liberty, but in all things charity.”
It is along these lines that the various contributors to this volume present their own studies about how to deal with disputable matters within Christian churches. The aim is not to stifle debate through