Thoughts On Sectarianism

[BondServant]

I am really confused by you respsone... 

Do you believe that our own personal dogma is more important than Jesus Christ?

Do you believe that focusing on Jesus Christ to work together as one body is "sectarianism?"  If so, how?

I never said we should ignore all doctrine, I just said that Jesus Christ is more important than the disputable matters in the Bible.  Do you disagree?

I said nothing about my thoughts being more important than Jesus Christ ---you said that.  Nothing was said by me about diminishing the work or person of Christ ---you said that.

I disagree with your statements, and I don't know why you chose to make issues over things you imagine, rather than what I said.  I wonder what your problem is about seeing unity in the faith.  You seem to support the idea of sectarianism.

- Seriousseeker

Seriousseeker, please take a deep breath and relax.  OneBody did not put any words in your mouth.  He asked you questions to see where you are coming from.  That is the key to working with our brothers and sisters in Christ...understanding where they are coming from.  Your choosing to go on the offensive rather than answer the questions is a big hinderance to the unity you say you are seeking. 

From what I read, OneBody stated that we should put aside our denominational differences and focus on Jesus.  That is the exact opposite of sectarianism.  Why are you claiming that he supports that idea when he very clearly stated the opposite?

Bottom line, if we are going to argue with each other, unity will never happen.

If we choose to understand each other, regardless of any perceived differences, that will go a long way to bringing us together in Christ.

Bond

[davidmac]

C. H. Mackintosh penned these words many years ago-

Here lies the grand principle. God has various instruments for His work, and we should value them all as His instruments, and nothing more. It has ever been Satan's object to lead the Lord's people to set up heads of schools, leaders of parties, centres of cliques, thus splitting up the Church of God into sects, and destroying its visible unity. Let us not be ignorant of his devices; but in every possible way "endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace."

How is this great object to be attained? By keeping near the Centre — by abiding in Christ — by habitual occupation with Himself — by drinking deeply into His spirit, and walking in His footsteps — by lying at His feet, in true brokenness of spirit and humility of mind — by thorough consecration to His service, the furtherance of His cause, the promotion of His glory, the prosperity and blessing of every beloved member of His body.

Thus shall we be delivered from strife and contention, from the discussion of profitless questions and baseless theories, from partiality, prejudice, and predilection. We shall be able to see and appreciate all the varied lines of truth converging upon the one divine Centre, the varied rays of light emanating from the one eternal Source. We shall rejoice in the great fact that, in all the ways and works of God, in every department of nature and grace, in things on earth and things in Heaven, in time and eternity, it is not a dull uniformity but a delightful variety. In a word, God's universal and eternal principle is "DIVERSITY AND UNITY."

taken from http://www.stempublishing.com/authors/mackintosh/Bk6/DIVERSTY.html

[Seriousseeker]

Bondservant and Onebody, I am sorry if I offended you or anyone else, for I surely did not intend that.  

I became a bit upset with the statement that I was pushing my "own personal dogma", and other objections to unity in the faith by some other posters.  I see unity as the mind of God, and that is even beyond our unity as believers in Christ.  So often when I speak of unity I hear people say such as " we are all one in Christ".  Certainly that is true ---it is elementary, but that is not the same as "unity in the faith" for God's testimony in the world, and that is what I think is failing in Christianity today.   I think I know wherein the problem lies, and that is what the original paper on this thread addressed.  I won't pursue it here, but if one wishes to write me privately I would be pleased to discuss it there ---and calmly,  where I can carefully reply.  Look up always!

- Seriousseeker