Ridgell's Originals

 Churches do not split over issues.  Not really.  You may have a few people leave a church because you so -- or don't do -- some specific thing, but the major rifts/splits/divisions come over something much deeper and more fundamental. 

Churches split over how you view Scripture.  I grew up in -- and still worship with -- churches of Christ.  But I read and listened to lots of people in other fellowships and am convinced this is true across the board.

So let me share the ways this plays out.

The first major split I was aware of in churches of Christ was over the use of instruments in worship.  While many advocating non-instrumental worship for a number of healthy convictions based on Biblical principles, the split occurred when congregations insisted that instrumental worship was wrong.  And that the Bible taught that.  After all, silence -- and the New Testament, tho not the Old, is silent on the use of instruments.  

Here is the problem.  When you say the Bible teaches something, it is very awkward to realize the Bible does not teach what you say.  The argument becomes "God did not say this, but this is what He meant."  As if the Holy Spirit never imagined anyone would not get the point.  

And of course, this view of Scripture eventually morphs into a conviction that there a right way to do -- or not do -- everything.  Very divisive, very narrow.  Defensive.  Lots of fighting.  Very hard to grow up loving Scripture when you do know the ins and outs of what it means when it does not specify things.  Eventually people will abandon that view of Scripture.

The second split that really affects our fellowship, and many others, is the role of women leadership and authority.  Part of the problem is the view above.  Scripture means things about women, public worship, and what can and can't be done.  Even when Scripture doesn't say it.  So a woman can't pass a tray during the Lord's supper.  Ironic that Scripture does not even say much about the how of Communion.

But that is a long way from preaching or being elders as a woman.  But not if you take the position that the Bible does not always mean what it says.  Maybe meant it then and there, but not here and now.  As if the Holy Spirit never imagined a time when culture would be at odds with things in the Bible.  

So you end up saying "God said this but that is not what He meant."  Very awkward when you have to explain away Scripture to get your point across. Hard to grow up believing the Bible when what it teaches changes over time and cultures.  So you have people who end up not taking Scripture seriously.  Making it say what they want it to say.

Of course, it is not just these two issues.  End time theology and church organization are two other issues where the first view of Scripture hurt the unity of believers.  And same sex marriage will see churches divide because of that second view.

The split happens because there are Christians who won't be part of a church that insists what they decide God meant to say is binding and must be followed.  Or they will not be part of a church that insists God did not mean what He did say.

I get that issues become the flash point and the focus of what we think causes churches to divide.  But I become more and more convinced the issues just point out the fundamental differences in how we look at Scripture. 

So let's all study Scripture for ourselves.  And study together.  Not just rely on a preacher or preachers to tell us what to believe.  Let us be guided and shaped by what the Bible actually says.  Not what we wish it said.  Or what we wish it did not say.

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM