Let me explain what I mean. This friend has been to Bible college, is way smarter than I am, has all the right mental capabilities to be an amazing Bible teacher and preacher (as a matter of fact I have heard him preach and came away convicted). However, in the handful of discussions we have had over the past two years he has done nothing but rip people and their ministries.
Granted some of his points were very valid and even had plenty of biblical merit. However, each of these very public, and not very public men alike he has disparaged has held to a Biblical view of the most important doctrines (the doctrines pertaining to man, sin, Jesus Christ, the Trinity, salvation, etc.) And yet, nothing I have heard my friend say about these men is encouraging.
I wonder how much my description of my friend actually describes you? Maybe you do not have all of the degrees my friend has, but is your attitude the same? Do you spend more time tearing down and destroying the bride of Christ than you do building it up and encouraging it? (Yes, I see the irony of that question since this installment of my blog seems to be doing that which I am being critical of). Yet, I am genuinely hurt when the bride of Christ is hurt. I am wounded when she is wounded. There are very few things that I cherish as much as the bride of Christ, the local and global genuine church.
Many in our culture are of the opinion that instead of standing for something greater than themselves it is easier to take a stand against something. I want to be a voice that says otherwise. To stand for Christ and His bride is the greatest honor you could ever have, and you do not have to be a paid pastor to stand for the bride of Christ.
Let me share just a couple of passages that if we did well, would go miles in growing unity rather than division among the family of God.
Romans 15:5, "Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus."
1st Thessalonians 5:11, "Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing."
Philippians 2:1, 2, "Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose."
Lest, anyone think I am saying that we do not take a stance on certain issues that seem to be bombarding the church these days I am not. As a shepherd who has been entrusted to oversee the lambs I have been entrusted with, I will be the first to use my staff as a club to beat off wolves (but that is another installment). Instead I want to end by asking a series of questions...
If we are called to encourage one another, what is encouraging in a spirit of criticism?
If we are called to be united in spirit, what is unifying in a spirit of criticism?
If we are called to build one another up, how can we expect to do that if we are hyper-critical at every turn?
If you are like my friend, you (like he) need to repent of your hyper-criticism. Let us hold things of first importance as first importance, but let us not elevate things of a secondary nature to first importance. I rather like the saying that should be given credit to the original author, but alas I do not know the original source (though I'd like to say I came up with it).
In essentials; unity
In non-essentials; diversity
In all things; charity
In our churches this should be our battle cry. Let us stop criticizing unnecessarily and strive for genuine unity which finds its foundation in the blood of Christ.
