Unbiblical Unity
By: Jeremiah Baldizan
“…sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.” (John 10:12 NASB). As Christians we are to avoid the evil of divisiveness. We are not to divide over non-essential issues such as certain styles of worship, talking in tongues, certain traditions that don’t violate Scripture, etc. But as Christians there are certain points in which we cannot sacrifice Truth for the sake of unity. There are certain Truths that cannot be compromised, for example the deity of Jesus Christ. Some groups say Jesus is a created being, nothing more than an angel. Other groups say Jesus is merely an offspring of a god that is like a man who has children. Obviously we cannot call those who hold to such doctrines as true biblical Christians because once a group of persons deny essential truths about God or His Word , they become cultist, as judged by Scripture. The reason I am even mentioning something so basic, is in response to some of my opponents. Unfortunately, I have been branded “divisive” by some. A title I accept as a compliment, others have called me a “Pharisee”. My question is, “Why attack the messenger instead of the message? “ All I have done to anyone is ask men to test today’s gospel presentations by Scripture and not tradition. Does it make me a Pharisee to ask men to test what their pastor says by Scripture and to keep their pastor accountable? Am I being divisive by asking men to test things by Scripture? Certainly yes! But reader please understand I am not being divisive in the carnal demonic way Scripture condemns, because the gospel is an essential and vital truth on which true Christianity stands or falls. If we have men in leadership whose egos cannot stand for them to be tested by Scripture, then maybe those men need to stop being leaders and instead be servants (slaves of our one and only true Senior Pastor the Lord Jesus Christ of whom we give an account, see James 3:1). True Christian unity will be in accord with the Truth and not in spite of it. The Gospel is essential Christian doctrine on which the bible allows no compromise (see Galatians chap 1). It is not biblical for anyone to declare men saved after they repeat a prayer, even if it is commonly accepted (a practice invented only 150 years ago). Surrendering truth to keep congregational unity is not true biblical unity, it is compromise with the world, something God’s true church is not allowed to do (James 4:4). Just as God commands in Jude, “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” because the best way to keep God’s sheep unified is to keep the wolves from scattering the flock. "He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.” (John 10:12 NASB). A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
