The ongoing divide between the reformed and non-reformed camps seems to be unending. I spoke recently with the editor of a Christian newspaper who lamented that it seems to ebb and flow, but never go away. The debate saddens me mostly because it is often less akin to debate among peers and more like lobbing theological hand-grenades at perceived enemies. This division (call it what it is) is bad for the church.
After spending some time thinking through the situation, I’ve begun to believe that our lifestyles of self-centered insulation breed this sort of division. Rather than seeking out those who are different from us with the intent of understanding them and their position, we surround ourselves only with those who think, dress, act, and believe the way we do and, if we aren’t careful, vilify those who differ from our version of “normal” or “right.”
In all of this, I believe, is a certain fear that we must protect truth as if the truth can somehow be lost. Michael Card says this about truth,
I had been given the notion that truth is so frail and fragile, it needs to be sheltered and protected from those who would seek to shatter it with untruth. Instead, Bill would introduce me to the Truth than can stand on its own against the gates of hell itself. This Truth does not shackle a person to a lifetime of defending and protecting it. Instead, this truth sets us free.
At the end of the day, if we are confident in our theological position, we should not fear those who would disagree with it. However, for those who may hold to a different view of soteriology, for instance, before we divide and insulate into like-minded camps, we should seek to understand the reason they believe differently and then wrestle with the orthodoxy of their position. There are biblical reasons that people hold to both reformed and non-reformed positions. The sooner we reconcile with the fact that people on both sides of this debate are seeking to be biblical, God-honoring, and evangelical, the quicker we can begin to respect one-another and move forward toward a goal that matters more…the fulfillment of the Great Commission.
I continue to be thankful that we as Southern Baptists are debating Calvinism and not gay marriage. However, I am reminded that much of the debate we concern ourselves with now was of little consequence 30 years ago when liberalism was a much greater enemy encroaching on our SBC landscape. At that time, inerrancy was king and reformed vs. non-reformed was of little consequence, both camps seemed able, willing, and enthusiastic to work together for a common goal. I pray that we who stand as beneficiaries of the Conservative Resurgence will also move forward together, enthusiastic to work toward the common goal of missions and evangelism which is under girded by our belief that God’s word is always right and without error, guiding us into God’s mission. We can divide ourselves by insulating ourselves into small, distinct theological camps or we can seek to serve the Lord by looking to our common goals and common theological perspectives. We can focus on what we have in common or on what divides us. I hope that we can stand on common ground and discuss our differences as brothers instead of lobbing grenades at the enemy.
