Foundational Truths

Foundational Truths: Striving for Unity in a Divided Culture

Emo Philips — Best Joke of all Time

Once I saw this guy on a bridge about to jump. I said, "Don't do it!"

He said, "Nobody loves me."

I said, "God loves you. Do you believe in God?"

He said, "Yes."

I said, "Are you a Christian or a Jew?"

He said, "A Christian."

I said, "Me, too! Protestant or Catholic?"

He said, "Protestant."

I said, "Me, too! What franchise?"

He said, "Baptist."

I said, "Me, too! Northern Baptist or Southern Baptist?"

He said, "Northern Baptist."

I said, "Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist or Northern Liberal Baptist?"

He said, "Northern Conservative Baptist."

I said, "Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region, or Northern Conservative Baptist Eastern Region?"

He said, "Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region."

I said, "Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1879, or Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912?"

He said, "Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912."

I said, "Die, heretic!" And I pushed him over.

SUMMARY

This joke was written by Emo Philips about 40 years ago.

20 years ago it was voted the funniest religious joke of all time… and for good reason!

I laugh every time I read it.

And yet the truth the joke teaches us points us to a very serious problem:

We find it easier to be divided than united

Oftentimes, rather than focusing on the many things we agree on, we will focus on the few areas of disagreement.

Transition to New Series…

This morning we are beginning a new series titled…

Foundational Truths: Striving for Unity in a Divided Culture

We are not naturally prone to unity.

You can observe this when watching children.

Nobody needs to tell them to be divided… they do it all on their own.

For us as adults its not much different…

We find it very easy to divide, rather than pursuing unity.

This is because…

in the world we live in…

We are conditoned to be divided

Just look at our culture.

We find anything and everything to argue about!

Coke VS Pepsi

Detroit Red Wings VS Toronto Maple Leafs

Tupperware VS Rubbermaid

Ford VS Chevy

iPhone VS Android

Cats VS Dogs

Physical Book VS Ebook

Fries with Ketchup VS Plain Fries

In all of these areas, we are forced to pick between two things.

Yes, I admit, all of these are minor issues…

But as I was thinking about it this week, I wondered if Satan doesn’t use these minor issues that people joke and laugh about to create a culture of…

Normalized Division

What I mean, is that disagreeing on minor issues is the breeding ground for division on more serious issues.

We become so accustomed to division in small, laughable matters,

that it is natural and easy for us to be divisive over bigger issues.

Division can be petty and funny when the issues at stake are are small,

but when we get to the more serious issues of our day, it no laughing matter.

Some of these bigger cultural issues include:

Abortion…

Climate Change…

Gun Control…

Gender Identity and LGBTQ+…

Vaccination and masks…

Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide…

Politics…

Religious Beliefs…

These issues involve deeply held beliefs, and debates about these issues get very heated!

It is not uncommon for people to be willing to give up relationships with family and friends over disagreements on some of these issues.

Some of you know this all too well, and are still dealing with the after effects of disagreements that came up during Covid.

Bringing it Home

We live in a culture of normalized division…

But what about the Church? Are we as Christians any better?

John, in his gospel account, records a prayer that Jesus prayed hours before His crucifixion.

In his prayer, Jesus prayed for all who would believe in Him…

John 17:21 ESV

21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Jesus prayed for the unity of those who would believe in Him… His brothers and sisters.

When God’s children are unified, THIS is to be the witness to the world that leads to their belief in Christ.

This seems like an easy enough way to prove that Jesus came to save lost sinners,

so let’s just all be unified, and everyone will believe in Christ!

Not so fast!

The question we need to ask anytime we read a passage of Scripture is:

Why did the Holy Spirit include this passage in our Bibles?

Since we are born with a sinful nature, we don’t naturally pursue God.

This is why we need God’s wisdom… to teach us His ways.

The reason the Holy Spirit included Jesus’ prayer about unity in the Scriptures, is because:

we don’t naturally strive for unity…

Our fleshly, sinful tendancy is to fight, quarrel, and divide.

This is why God needs to give us instruction on unity.

We have probably all been a part of a heated debate at some point in our lives.

I know I have had my share of debates over the years…

and I have to confess at times during those debates my heart was filled with pride, and sinful motives.

The fact that Christians are prone to disagree can be seen in that…

There are an estimated 47,300 Christian denominations in the world

That means there are at least 47,300 differences of opinion that at some point in time were too much to overcome for a group of believers.

Far too often, when confronted with an area of disagreement,

believers choose to break off and separate rather than being unified in Christ.

This is not always because Christians are selfish and divisive, although that has been the case at times.

Most often believers have chosen to separate because they want to hold to their convictions, and want to protect the truth they believe about God.

They feel that compromise in a certain area of their conviction is a slippery slope that will eventually lead to an abandoning of true faith in Christ.

Transition

So how do Christians strive for unity, when we don’t agree on everything?

How do we know what areas of disagreement rise to the level of separation, OR

what areas of disagreement we can live with in the same church?

Albert Mohler has a helpful concept he calls…

Theological Triage

The idea comes from an emergency room in a hospital…

Where emergency medical personnel are trained in the concept of triage…

Triage comes from a french word, which means to sort.

In the medical context, triage is:

the process of evaluating patients as they come in, determining who should see the doctor first and what level of care is needed, based on the urgency of their condition.

With the fast-paced environment of an emergency room, medical personnel need to be able to answer these questions quickly to give the patients with the most critical needs top priority in terms of treatment.

We’ve all sat and watched, frustrated, as someone who came in after us got treated first…

That was likely because the trained staff determined that their need was more urgent.

This sort of process is absolutely necessary,

or else someone with a scraped knee would receive the same urgency as someone with a gunshot wound to the chest.

Albert Mohler has applied this same idea to the Christian faith.

With the concept of “Theological Triage” Mohler seeks to help Christians think about varying aspects of our Christian beliefs in different levels.

Our desire as believers is to be faithful to God’s Word,

but rather than separate every time we disagree, we can apply this idea of “Theologial Triage” to help us determine if an issue is one worth dividing over.

Mohler speaks of three different levels of:

THEOLOGICAL TRIAGE

First order issues - essential to the gospel

This would include the most crucial teachings of Christianity, like:

The Trinity…

The deity and humanity and Jesus Christ…

Justification by faith… and

The authority of Scripture

to name a few.

These are issues that are central to the gospel.

Those who would reject any of these teachings are by definition, not Christians.

THEOLOGICAL TRIAGE

Second order issues - urgent for the church (but not essential to the gospel)

So long as someone agrees with first order issues, we must recognize them as brothers and sisters in the Lord.

They are true believers.

But there are important issues that believers will disagree on, that affect how we practice our faith.

These issues do not necessarily need to separate believers, but at times they do.

Secondary issues are the main reasons for the many different denominations we have in Christianity.

An example of this would be the difference of opinion on the mode of baptism.

As Anabaptists we hold to believers baptism, while Presbyterians hold to infant baptism.

This difference is not one that changes the message of the gospel, but it does affect how we practice it.

So while we may in fact recognize them as brothers and sisters in Christ, these opposing beliefs create a natural barrier to close fellowship.

As Anabaptists, we would never be comfortable being a part of a church that baptizes babies, and and Presbyterian would never be comfortable with a church that doesn’t.

The division in this case may be healthy…

so long as we strive for love and unity among those who hold opposing views and yet remain true to the first level issues which are essential to the gospel and salvation.

Another secondary issue would be women serving as pastors.

We believe the role of pastor/shepherd is reserved for men through God’s design,

but we recognize there are believers in other churches that hold to the view that women may serve as pastors.

Again, we see that this would cause a very natural division, since there is not really an either/or position to be taken.

A church will either have women pastors, or it won’t,

and those with opposing beliefs will more than likely find a church in which they feel comfortable with their practice of their faith.

This is okay, so long as we recognize them as true believers if they hold to the first level issues.

Secondary issues are most commonly related to the practice of the church, which is why disagreements often result in separation.

These disagreements are natural and healthy, so long as we recognize those with opposing beliefs as brothers and sisters in Christ because of our agreement on issues essential to the gospel.

THEOLOGICAL TRIAGE

Third order issues - important to Christian theology (but not essential to the gospel or necessarily urgent for the church)

Here believers may disagree and yet remain in close fellowship in the same church.

In this category we would put things like eschatology… the timing of the return of Christ.

Believers who affirm that Christ will return, can disagree on the timing of His return as well as other details regarding end times,

and still maintain fellowship in the same church.

Another third order issue would be Calvinism vs. Arminianism.

Whichever view you hold to, all believers must acknowledge that it is our duty as God’s ambassadors to spread the good news of the gospel.

So our views do not stop us from fellowshipping together, and working to extend God’s kingdom.

This concept of “Theological Triage” does not in any way seek to minimize the importance of second or third order issues.

It is simply is a healthy tool we can use to give our attention the most pressing issues.

Paul acknowledged this concept of theological triage in his writing, saying:

1 Corinthians 15:3 ESV

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,

Jesus acknowledged this concept of theological triage as well in:

Matthew 23:23 ESV

23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.

We know that all Scripture is God-breathed and useful for instruction.

But we must recognize that there are many disputed topics in Christianity.

Christians have, and will always have, disagreements about many issues.

But we can still have unity when we strive for unity on issues central to the gospel.

Summary

God chose not to clearly lay out all the theological issues in our Bibles,

so the positions that we hold today are human attempts at understanding God through His revealed Word.

We must continue to understand God through His Word,

but we must hold our theology with an open hand,

recognizing those with opposing views as brothers and sisters in Christ that:

We can learn from; and

are commanded to love.

ILLUSTRATION

Charles Spurgeon, was a famous Baptist preacher from the 19th century.

On January 7th, 1866, Spurgeon was preaching on unity in Christ from John 17, Jesus’ High Priestly prayer.

Speaking on what Christian unity should look like, he said…

I converse with a spiritual man, and no matter what he calls himself, when we talk of sin, pardon, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and such like themes, we are agreed. We speak of our blessed Lord. My friend says that Jesus is fair and lovely; so say I.

He says that he has nothing else to trust to but the precious blood; nor have I anything beside. I tell him that I find myself a poor, weak creature; he laments the same. I live in his house a little while: we pray together at the family altar, you could not tell which it was that prayed, Calvinist or Arminian, we pray so exactly alike;

and when we open the hymn-book, very likely if he happens to be a Wesleyan he chooses to sing, “Jesus, lover of my soul.” I will sing it, and then next morning he will sing with me, “Rock of ages, cleft for me.” If the Spirit of God be in us, we are all agreed upon, great points.

Let me say that among true saints the points of union even in matters of judgment are ninety-nine, and the points of difference are only as one. I am told that Christians do not love each other. I am very sorry if that be true, but I rather doubt it, for I suspect that those who do not love each other are not Christians.”

Spurgeon’s point here is that when we agree on the first order issues that are essential to the gospel, we have so much in common!

We have this unity because of Christ’s Spirit who dwells in us.

We are then commanded to love one another.

If we don’t, we must ask whether we are truly Christians at all.

Spurgeon goes on to give an example from his own life about loving someone he disagreed with.... George Herbert.

George Herbert was a poet, and an anglican priest from the 17th century, before Spurgeon’s time.

He was known for practicing “High Church”, which emphasizes:

more elaborate and formal liturgical practices,

a strong emphasis on sacraments, and

often a more hierarchical and ritualistic worship style.

Spurgeon was not a fan of “High Church”, to put it lightly…

“Where the Spirit of God is there must be love, and if I have once known and recognized any man to be my brother in Christ Jesus, the love of Christ constraineth me no more to think of him as a stranger or foreigner, but a fellow citizen with the saints…

Now I hate High Churchism as my soul hates Satan; but I love George Herbert, although George Herbert is a desperately High Churchman. I hate his High Churchism, but I love George Herbert from my very soul, and I have a warm corner in my heart for every man who is like him…

Let me find a man who loves my Lord Jesus Christ as George Herbert did and I do not ask myself whether I shall love him or not; there is no room for question, for I cannot help myself; unless I can leave off loving Jesus Christ, I cannot cease loving those who love him.”

Transition

Charles Spurgeon, by example, shows us the need to put brotherly love above our views on second and third level issues.

When we encounter those who think differently than us, but love Jesus their Saviour, we must choose to strive for love and unity.

This is because of…

The Importance of Our Cause

Gavin Ortlund has written a book called,

“Finding the Right Hills to Die On”

where he lays out the case for theological triage.

Speaking about the medical aspect of triage,

he makes the point that when you don’t have serious, life and death medical concerns to tend to,

then you have time to deal with less serious concerns.

Translating that to the spiritual condition of our day and age, Ortlund says…

“… if souls were not perishing, if our culture were not seeming to escalate into a whirlwind of confusion and outrage, if the church did not have so many langushing needs—I suppose, if these were not the conditions we faced, we could do away with theological triage and work on every doctrine all at once.

But the dire needs of the times require us to make strategic decisions of prioritization in order to be as effective as possible at pleasing Christ, serving the church, and advancing his gospel.”

As Christians,

we MUST find a foundation to stand on,

striving for unity, and

working together

to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ.

PUT THIS SLIDE UP… THEN MOVE ON…

You might be thinking, Joe, that’s a really cute map with really nice colours.

The red areas… tells you where almost 50% of the worlds population remains unreached with the gospel.

This is a map is from the website joshuaproject.net

They estimate that of about 8 Billion people in the world, 3.4 billion remain unreached…

That is over 42% of the worlds population that has no knowledge of Christ or what He has done for them.

Add to that fact, that

The World Death Rate in 2023

Deaths per Day: 166,324

Deaths per Hour: 6,930

Deaths per Minute: 116

Deaths per Second: 1.93

Summary

Every day, lost souls are entering into eternity.

For this reason, we must be focussed on the mission of the church, and be willing to lay aside our expectation of reaching agreement on every point of doctrine.

Transition to Apostles’ Creed

So how do we know what the first order issues are?

How do we know what issues are essential to the gospel?

As I already mentioned, this morning we are beginning a new series titled:

Foundational Truths: Striving for Unity in a Divided Culture

A divided culture is nothing new…

This has been a common theme throughout history…

And the early church was no exception.

We can learn from how they found common ground.

Albert Mohler speaking on how they did that says…

“In the earliest centuries of the Christian movement, heretics directed their most dangerous attacks upon the church's understanding of who Jesus is, and in what sense He is the very Son of God. Other crucial debates concerned the question of how the Son is related to the Father and the Holy Spirit.

The earliest creeds and councils of the church were, in essence, emergency measures taken to protect the central core of Christian doctrine.

These Creeds were statements of beliefs that held the early church together.

Over the next 6 weeks, we will be taking a closer look at the Apostles’ Creed…

as we look at the foundational truths of our faith…

as we strive for unity as a church.

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic* Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

Closing

It is our hope that as we examine the Apsostles’ Creed, we can strive for unity as a part of Christ’s church.

This unity is not only possible through Christ’s Spirit, but it is also necessay, for Christ has only one bride.

As Gavin Ortlund says…

“To affirm the unity of the church is to affirm that there are not multiple, distinct groups that constitute separate peoples of God. Jesus does not have a plurality of brides. He has one bride”

Christ has only one bride…

and there is one primary theme of worship from His bride.

We see this in…

Revelation 5. Here, John sees the throne…

and the Lamb, that is Jesus Christ our Saviour,

takes the title deed to the universe out of the hand of God on the throne…

and praise begins.

Revelation 5:8–14 ESV

8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” 13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” 14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

What is the focus of the worship of heaven?

The Gospel!!!

Jesus Christ willingly gave up His own life,

to purchase guilty sinners as His own people.

In heaven, there are:

no theological debates…

no controversies…

no differences of opinion…

In heaven there is unified worship and service to the Lamb!

Worship coming from:

the 4 living creatures…

the 24 elders…

countless angels… AND…

people from every tribe and language and people and nation…

all those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the hope of all the world.

We long to join the unified worship of Christ in heaven…

But let’s not wait till then!

Let us strive for unified worship of Christ our Saviour,

as we labour together to share the message of His gospel…

the gospel that gives mankind the hope that they too will be there, in the glorious presence of Jesus… the Saviour of the world!

Let’s pray!