DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- A DIVIDED CHURCH

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – A DIVIDED CHURCH

"Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. And when there had much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: 'Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, and made no distinction between us and them purifying their hearts by faith.' " (Acts 15:6-9)

There was disagreement in the church. There were believing Jews of the sect of the Pharisees who believed that unless the Gentile who were converted to Christ submitted to circumcision, they could not be saved. Paul and Barnabas, as missionaries to the Gentiles, contended that salvation was by grace, and did not require circumcision. Paul wrote a whole letter on this subject – the letter to the Galatians

So they went to the leadership of the church in Jerusalem to settle this theological issue. After a lot of arguing back and forth, Peter rose and reminded them how God had shown him that there was no difference with God between Jews and Gentiles, and how Cornelius and his family were saved without circumcision. The church settled the issue by declaring that circumcision was not a requirement for salvation.

In the church in the 21^st century, there are theological differences between sincere believers. Some believe in unconditional eternal security and some do not. Some practice divine healing and some do not. Some endorse speaking in tongues and some do not. These are great theological divides, and they can cause much dispute between Believers.

What is the solution? I think it is wrapped up in the little phrase, "God, who knows the heart." He sees those who have true salvation through their faith in Christ's atoning work but who have difference regarding peripheral doctrines. Like the two camps in today's text, He knows the heart and He accepts them both. It seems that the lesson is to be careful not to discount another person's faith just because they don't believe like I do about secondary issues. Faith in the Lord Jesus for salvation is the foundation of being a Christian. God knows the heart, and judges much better than I do, so I best leave it to Him because He purifies our hearts through faith in Jesus.

Love, Dad