DIFFERENCES AND DIFFERENCES
Our salvation depends
only on our faith in JESUS OF NAZARETH, our Redeemer, the Son of God (Acts
16:31; Eph 2:8).
But this faith, is
understood to be obedient, that is, to be followed by a desire and compromise
to live under our Savior’s will (Jn 14:23; 15:9-10), under the danger of
falling off Grace if we do not submit to Christ’s will (Mt 7:21, 26-27; Jn 15:4-6).
Nevertheless, it is
our faith alone in Jesus that finally saves us because no human will ever come
to the end of his life and be ready to pass a divine judgement and found to be
perfect and totally obedient, always faithful to God. He will be sinful (Acts 7:59;
Ro 10:6-9).
Every Christian, regardless
how he has lived, in holiness or sinfulness, he must always repent at the last
minute and ask Lord Jesus for forgiveness, and he will be forgiven (Jn 6:37; Heb
4:16; 1Jn 1:9), That is the only way we can attain salvation. Through
forgiveness, due to our living faith in Jesus, and not in hope to be found ‘sinless’
at the Judgement Day, due to our own effort and merit.
This is the
foundation of Christianity (Mt 16:18), therefore, Christian communities today
co-exist with each-other, despite the differences they may have in customs,
traditions, or theological views. We cannot change that, but every human who
calls upon the Holy Name of Jesus, has the divine given right to claim to be
finally judged by JESUS Himself, over any other human tribunal (Mk 9:39-40). Even
if we may not have a direct communion with them, it is our duty before our
Lord, to consider them Christians, and treat them with the love and respect
they deserve, as our brethren.
The reason we have
communion with some, and not communion with other groups, depends in the
consequences of the doctrinal ideas we all hold.
Some Christians have
different opinions about the Rapture, or the Millennial reign of Jesus at his
return; others if we should drink alcohol or not in the Lord’s Supper. The
consequences of these ideas do not change the ethics and morals of our
communities. Even if we are personally convinced of one or another theory, this
will only affect us for a while, and soon we will all adapt to the true
circumstances, whether we missed the Rapture or not..
The same with the
alcohol. The essence of the Eucharist survives whether we use wine, or grape
juice, and we all agree that drunkenness is sinful.
There is other level
of doctrinal differences, that affect our whole view of the Gospel. Examples of
that, is Infant Baptism or female Pastors.
The ones who consider
essential to have personal faith prior to baptism will have to reject infant
baptism as valid; and the ones who believe that women are not called to be Church
Elders will refuse to acknowledge their ordination as such.
This stage of
differences starts creating a breach, however, not deep enough as to cut all
ties, because we believe that if those infants grow to a personal knowledge of
Jesus, they will become true Christians, and hopefully, be baptized as adults.
The same with female ministers. Even if we think that they are not seen by God
as Elders, nobody can stop a Christian, male or female, from witnessing and preaching
the Gospel of Jesus, and finally, in case there are no men up to the job, a
woman can hold the leadership of a community, but never as an Elder, until
there is a man found for that job. These conditions are endured, but never
accepted as correct, and none of these groups stop being Christians for endorsing
these behaviors.
Sadly, there is a third
level of differences that cause total discord between Christian communities, to
the point that they disclaim each other as apostates and sectarians, losing all
hope of future reunion.
Those who accept
homosexuality, plural marriages, or prayers to the dead, and other doctrines, if
wrong, they will promote sinful conduct.
Homosexuality and Polygamy,
in the hypothetical case that were correct, would be harmless; but in case they
were wrong, they will mean distortion of humanity, grave sexual misconduct and
loss of salvation if unrepented. Therefore, they cannot be left to uncertainty
or discussions. The gravity of the issue demands a firm stand as soon as
possible. In this category also fall ideas that deny basic doctrines of
Christianity, like the divinity of Jesus, personality of the Holy Spirit,
physical resurrection of Jesus, Virginal conception of the Lord, etc.
Even if these topics
are discussed by theologians, they can only be discussed for greater
understanding of effects and causes, but not nature of these ideas. These
themes demand a firm dogmatic decision. Those who deny Jesus divinity, and
those who accept it, can discuss the issue, but never putting in doubt their
convictions as something ‘discussable’. And we can say the same with homosexuality,
or prayers to the dead, as a form of occultism.
HOWEVER, if what they
profess, right or not, is born from their faith in Jesus as the Messiah and Son
of God, they have the right to await judgement from the Lord Himself, rather
than ourselves.
OUR attitude with
groups like these, like the Watchtower Society (Arians), the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Henotheist and Polytheist), Unitarians (Arians), Seven
Day Adventists (Judaizing), or United Pentecostals (Sabelian-Modallist) and
others, should be of a safe distance, openly declaring what we identify as
serious faults that will directly affect our interrelationship with God and his
will.
But at all times, we
must remain conscious, that those faults are not intentional. Their errors are
not a product of an evil desire to destroy Christianity but come as a misunderstanding
of the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, and they profess their errors, with
the mistaken intention of doing his will.
But even then, only
our Lord Jesus can judge them, condemn or save them, if they truly love Him and
are willing to submit to His will.
He said,
“Whoever comes
to me I will never drive away”
John 6:37
Omar Flores.
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