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Conference yukon::christian_v7

Title:	The CHRISTIAN Notesfile
Notice:	Jesus reigns! - Intros: note 4; Praise: note 165
Moderator:	ICTHUS::YUILLEON

Created:	Tue Feb 16 1993
Last Modified:	Fri May 02 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	962
Total number of notes:	42902

370.0. "Unity of the Body" by EVMS::PAULKM::WEISS (Trade freedom for His security-GAIN both) Thu Jan 13 1994 11:31

Garth raised a point in the discussion of women speaking in church that I
think deserves a topic in its own right.  He said (in 363.49):

>Re: .42  (Nancy)
>
>>    It is my conviction to not serve under a female Pastor.  It is your
>>    conviction that this is okay.  
>
>Oh, but I would disagree with you, Nancy!  If you happen be in a position in
>which you are faced with serving under a female pastor, then which is more
>important, the unity of the church and the gospel, or the issue of whether 
>the women was serving God in a proper role?
>
>Think twice before you leave in a huff...

I very much agree that the unity of the Body is an extremely important thing.
Yet this argument of preserving unity is currently also being used by people
who are desiring to validate things which aren't just "improper."

Is breaking the unity of the body ever the right thing to do?  If so, when,
and how do we tell?

Paul

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
370.1		MKOTS3::MORANO	Skydivers make good impressions	`Thu Jan 13 1994 11:44`	18
	! <<< Note 370.0 by EVMS::PAULKM::WEISS "Trade freedom for His security-GAIN both" >>> ! -< Unity of the Body >- ! Is breaking the unity of the body ever the right thing to do? If so, when, ! and how do we tell? My very first thought on this, is the well known separation of the protesters fromteh Catholic church. Was it right? Yes and no. Do both sects serve a positive purpose, yes. The second part of your second question I think is easier to answer. Scritpure. If a church or body is not practicing the doctrine as taught us by the Lord, Paul and Peter have said, separate yourself from false teachings. I am not advocating the splitting of the church to the Nth degree, but to each there is redeeming value. This is the dificult thing to accept. PDM
370.2		ICTHUS::YUILLE	Thou God seest me	`Thu Jan 13 1994 13:00`	27
	� Is breaking the unity of the body ever the right thing to do? If so, when, � and how do we tell? Interesting that 'Diotrephes, who loves to be first' in 3 John 9 is not detached from the body by John, even though that is apparently what Diotrephes is trying to do to others... 1 Corinthians 5:11 is the command to break fellowship with someone who claims to be a Christian, but whose lifestyle is blatently inconsistent with that claim. 1 Corinthians 10:28 has the injunction to examine oneself before taking the LORD's supper / communion - giving the direct responsibility to the individual to exclude themselves if they realise they're out of fellowship. Essentially, with the LORD, but generally recognised by conflict with the brethren. I feel that most church splits are over things which should be secondary matters compared to our unity in the LORD (after all, the fellowship started together), and if they prefer to divide in order to follow different details of worship etc, it should be managed amicably - without breaking fellowship. The trouble is that both sides generally have to hide the guilt engendered by saying 'my understanding of this detail is more important than my love for you' to the 'other' half of the fellowship. So the wrongness of the other half has to be emphasised to justify this. Sad. Andrew
370.3	From St. Ignatius of Antioch, 110 A.D.	KALI::EWANCO	Eric James Ewanco	`Fri Jan 21 1994 16:45`	22
	From the Epistle of St. Ignatius of Antioch to the Philadelphians, 110 A.D.: Chapter 2 [1] As children therefore [of the light] of the truth, shun division and wrong doctrines; and where the shepherd is, there follow ye as sheep. [2] For many specious wolves with baneful delights lead captive the runners in God's race; but, where ye are at one, they will find no place. Chapter 3 [1] Abstain from noxious herbs, which are not the husbandry of Jesus Christ, because they are not the planting of the Father. Not that I have found division among you, but filtering. [2] For as many as are of God and of Jesus Christ, they are with the bishop; and as many as shall repent and enter into the unity of the Church, these also shall be of God, that they may be living after Jesus Christ. Be not deceived, my brethren. [3] If any man followeth one that maketh a schism, _he doth not inherit _the kingdom of God_. If any man walketh in strange doctrine, he hath no fellowship with the passion.