Jesus often taught with reference to what was around him.
“??? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ???????? ???? ?? ???? ????, ??? ????? ???? ????????? ???????? ????????? ???? ????. ??? ?? ???? ???”. (???? 20 ? 25)
In this passage Jesus highlights the leadership style of “the gentiles” as something his disciples should be aware of….and be careful not to emulate.
Why was this a risk?
Because pursuing their natural desires would result in a model very different to the Kingdom Jesus came to establish. And the same is true for us.
Another aspect of Kingdom rule in which we do well not to copy “the gentiles” is when we disagree.
????? ???? ????????
????? ???? ???? ??? ???????? ???????. (1 ??? 4 ? 16)
A foundation of facilitating the kingdom of God on the earth is right thinking and right believing.
We do well to hold on to our doctrine and guard closely what we believe. Having a clear conscience requires that we are obedient to the revelation we have received.
But how do we respond when the doctrines of others differ?
?? ???? ?? ????
??? ?? ???? ?? ???? ??? ?? ???????? ?? ???? (? ??? 13 ? 9)
Disagreements are bound to come as we only, “know
in part”.
We understand this. The challenge is, the part I know is not always the part you know….so in some parts we will disagree.
There is a temptation, particularly for those with strong teaching gifts and those who hear the voice of the Holy Spirit clearly, to conclude their theology is almost perfect!
The reality for any of us is that should we compare notes with Jesus….there would be areas in which we would disagree.
Our response to the truth like Peter might be, “?????? ??? ????, ? ???? ????? ????? ???????? ???????” (???? 10 ? 14).
In which case, the response of the Lord might be, “?? ??? ???? ???????? ??????? ???? ??? ??? ???? ?????” (???? 10 ? 15).
???????? ?? ??? ???? ??? ????
Theology is not what you know but Who you know….and what you do!
As James says, “???????? ???? ??? ??? ?????? ??????? ?? ???? ??? ????????? ?? ????: ?? ???? ????? ??????? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ???????? ??? ?? ???? ??????? ???? ????? ???????? ?? ??? ?????.” (????? 1 ? 27)
And should we reassure ourselves with the soundness of our beliefs, we are likely to get the same response from James: “????! ???? ??? ?????? ??????? ????” (????? 2 ? 19).
So if we are to understand theology the way God does, we need to understand disagreement in the same context.
To be prophetic is to honour what God honours; to see things the way He sees them; to honour as important what God honours as important.
What aspect of theology would seem to me to be of chief importance to God, is how a man walks with Him….and how this is reflected in his character.
So if I see someone who appears to be walking with God and has a life of fruit that attests to this….I am not going to call them out, if on some aspect of doctrine, we disagree.
And what if over time, the target of our honour reveals character that is less good. No matter, on 2 counts:
Firstly, we are not the judge of the earth…and the One who is will do right.
Secondly, if the extent of our honour is to recognise another as one saved by grace, with the potential to return to follow their old nature…we should not be unduly shaken.
???? ?? ??? ???? ??????????
Returning to the world our natural desires would build….it is one of parties and divisions.
This is my party….this is my leader….we are not like them…are you one of us?
The apostle Paul came across this culture in Corinth. His response was, “??? ??? ????? ???????. ??? ????? ????? ?? ???????? ??? ??????????? ????? ???, ??? ??? ??? ???????? ??? ??? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ??????? ??? ???? ??? ????, “? ?????? ????,” ??? ???????, “? ?????? ???????,” ??? ??? ??? ???? ????? ??????? (1 ??? 3 ? 3 – 4)
James eludes to this culture, calling it, “wisdom from below”:
???? ?????? ?????? ??? ???????? ????? ???? ???’? ???? ???? ???? ???? ??????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ??? ?????? ??? ?? ??? ????, ?? ??? ????. ??? ????? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ??? ????, ?? ??? ??????? ??? ?????. (????? 4 ? 1 – 2)
And again:
??? ?? ??? ??????? ?????? ???? ??? ??????? ???????? ?? ???? ??????, ?? ??? ????? ????? ?? ?? ???? ??? ?????. ???? “??????” ???? ??? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ?? ???????, ???????????, ???????. ??? ????? ??? ???? ???? ??? ??????? ????????, ????? ??? ???? ???????? ??? ????? ???? ????????.
??? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ?? ??? ????; ???? ?????-??????, ???????????, ??????????, ???? ?? ????? ??? ???? ?????, ????????? ??? ???????. ??????????? ??? ??? ?? ????? ???? ? ??????? ?? ?????????????. (????? 3 ? 14 – 18)
?? ?? ???????? ?? ?? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ?????????
Looking in the mirror should provide the answer to this question!
Should we need any further help, Acts 10 tells a story of an apostle, well attested with a ministry of signs and wonders….who struggled with the idea that the salvation of Jesus could extend to gentiles.
In Acts 11, we see a church in Jerusalem that struggled with this even more.
And judging by Paul’s account in Galatians, this theology did not disappear in an instant.
I am not suggesting we turn a blind eye to those who call immorality morality.
But there are those who hold doctrines that do not in themselves promote unrighteousness.
I am thinking of issues such as: do we go to heaven when we die? oneness pentecostalism; what is evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit? does tithing have a place in the New Covenant? are future sins forgiven when we believe? will the church be raptured? should churches be led by one person? did the atonement purchase physical healing in this age, etc, etc
I know what I believe and I will continue to teach what I believe….and if on any matter you think differently, may the Holy Spirit make it clear to you!
And should we still think differently, I will strive to honour what God honours….those who walk humbly with Him.
??? ??? ?? ??
The Holy Spirit gives us another illustration of Jesus’ way, where in the gospels his disciples observe someone who was not, “one of them”:
“??????,” ???? ????, “?? ??? ??????? ??????? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ???? ??? ?? ????? ?? ???? ???, ??????? ?? ?? ??? ??? ?? ??.”
“?? ??? ???? ???,” ????? ????, “??? ??????? ?? ??? ??????? ??? ?? ??? ???.” (???? 9 ? 49 – 50)
May we be as gracious in honouring others, as God is gracious in honouring us.