‘NOT A TEST OF FELLOWSHIP’

    Recently I read a note from a man with whom I had a doctrinal disagreement.  In his note he pointed out a mutual friend who also disagreed with him, “But,” he said, “He has chosen not to make it a test of fellowship.”  Was this a good thing?  In the midst of conflict and disagreement there is a natural concern that disagreement not progress into division.  But the temptation to overlook wrong for the sake of peace is not a good thing.

   According to James 3:14-15 envy and strife are not part of the wisdom that God gives.  However, James goes on to say that true wisdom does not seek peace at any cost.  The wisdom from above is first concerned about purity.  Peace comes second.

   I realize that not every disagreement is a matter of fellowship.  I cannot agree with those who say that the Holy Spirit literally dwells in the hearts of Christians.  God is not a located being.  He is not subject to our understanding of dwelling in a certain place.  This convinces me that the verses which talk of the Spirit dwelling in us are figurative.  But as long as people do not teach that the Holy Spirit acts directly on the human heart, I can see no evil consequence of believing in a literal indwelling.  This article does not deal with these types of non-consequential disagreements.

   But many disagreements have consequences for our faith and obedience to God.  For example:

1.            Those who argue that Christ’s marriage law is not binding on non-Christians are more than intellectually wrong.  Their doctrine allows people who are living in adultery (Matthew 19:9) to remain in that adulterous relationship by asserting that they were not responsible to that law before they were Christians.  This doctrine is false.  All men are under the law to Christ (1 Corinthians 9:21).  The Corinthians were guilty of breaking God’s marriage law and committing adultery before they became Christians (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).  This false doctrine encourages people to continue in sin, and therefore endangers the souls of those people (1 John 1:6-7).

2.            The false doctrine of premillennialism casts doubts on the mission of Christ here on the earth, the importance of the church, and perverts our understanding of God’s plan for man.  Premillennialism is not an innocent doctrine.

   Here is my real concern.  The idea that we can choose not to make something a test of fellowship is wrong.  We don’t draw lines of fellowship; God does.  Verses like Ephesians 5:11, 2 John 9-11, and Romans 16:17-18 make it plain that there are places our fellowship cannot extend.  We cannot simply decide that a matter of sin is not a matter of fellowship.  We do not make anything a test of fellowship.  God is the only one with that authority.

   Some have argued that there are ‘weightier matters of the law’, and therefore there are also less weighty matters (Matthew 23:23).  Some are willing to disrupt fellowship over weighty matters but not over ones they consider less weighty.

   Some matters are weightier than others.  But any doctrine that encourages or allows men to do that which is sinful is a weighty matter indeed.  The fact is that some in arrogance have determined that certain false doctrines are weighty matters and others are not.  Who endowed these men with that authority?

   Is instrumental music a weighty matter?  Absolutely!  Use of the instrument in singing praises to God violates John 4:24 and Colossians 3:17.  Those who teach the instrument is a matter of indifference encourage people to sin by worshiping with it.  But what about the man who argues that instrumental music is a weighty matter but hand-clapping in time to the music is not?  What about the man who ‘makes’ instrumental music a fellowship issue, but thinks that dramatic skits taking the place of sermons is a light thing?  We don’t make such determinations, God does.

   Even in matters of fellowship there are still expedient matters to be decided.  How quickly we break off fellowship with someone who is teaching wrong is a matter of judgment.  Revelation 2:21 talks about space to repent.  We are not trying to take away the judgment that God gave to men.  Some issues deserve more time for teaching and discussion because they have not been taught in the past. 

   But the fact is that we cannot remain indefinitely and forever in fellowship with those who teach doctrines that tolerate or encourage sinful behavior just because we have decided not to make those doctrines a test of fellowship.

   Perhaps at times this is only a matter of terminology.  But in an effort to call Bible things by Bible names and to do Bible things in Bible ways, let us be careful not to speak of ‘making something a test of fellowship.’  God is the only one who can draw lives of fellowship.

Family Bulletin Board

Remember those who have chronic illnesses with prayer, visits, phone calls, and cards.   Jamie Farmer, Delsie Bishop, Lola Mae Hamlett, Fern Boynton, Ella Brumitt, Louise Hunt, Reva Brewer, Savannah Green, and Elizabeth Fowler.

DIRECTORY ADDITION:
David and Sagrario Villanueva
4756 Hollywood Road
St. Joseph, MI 49085
Phone: 429-6236

Birthdays:
David - April 24
Eric - April 18
Sagrario - April 18
Fernando - May 29
Anniversary - July 6

OUR SYMPATHY is extended to Isabeth Jones in the recent death of her sister-in-law.

CLARA BLYTHE is in Florida until April.  Her address there is on the bulletin board in the foyer.

SECRET SISTERS - We will be picking new names    soon.  If you would like to join in, see Laura Stark.