Twelve principles for disagreeing with other Believers
(Part Two)
For the last two sessions I've covered principles for disagreeing with other Christians. They are not always perfected by myself or anyone else. But in general they are very helpful and serve as a foundation for how to disagree (yes, even with other believers). The first was a series of principles from Tim Keller's book Center Church. Today is part two of twelve principles found in a book titled Conscience by Andy Naselli and J. D. Crowley. This post will cover the remaining six principles (Principles 7-12). Some of these thoughts are initial and definitely not final but they are sort of thoughts in progress.
7.
Your freedom to eat meat is correct, but don't let your freedom destroy the faith of a weak brother or sister (Rom 14:13-15).
A. Do I realize my theological or application position is correct but that it will effect others?
B. I must personally not let my liberty on the text and translation issue harm other believers. In applying this to the text and translation issue (for which I think it probably doesn't) but does this imply that a weak believer on this point has added to or made part of orthodox Christian belief and practice an English translation of the scriptures? Does this also imply that all other Christians using any other English translation (not to forget Italian, French, or Spanish to name a few) are causing them to be destroyed?
C. In what practical ways can I personally avoid ruining the faith of other genuine believers (especially as it applies to the text and translation issue)?
D. How do I determine who is being schismatic, overbearing, or is simply teaching false views on the text and translation issue?
8.
Disagreements about eating and drinking are not important in the kingdom of God; building each other up in righteousness, peace, and joy is the important thing (Rom 14:16-21).
A. Is my position on the text and translation issue on the same level as eating and drinking?
B. Can I build up other Christians using multiple translations? Consider some sub-points here:
First, must building up believers be done in the context of a local church?
Second, can it be done online or in another source of media?
C. Can I build up other Christians within the constraints of their conscience on this issue?
D. Am I willing to restrain my freedoms to build up other believers?
9. If you have freedom, don't flaunt it; if you are strict, don't expect others to be strict like you (Rom 14:22).
A. How should we define or describe flaunting? Is it even remotely fair to place on the same level one's liberty in music, alcohol, or smoking and reading an understandable English translation?
B. Is trying to teach on this issue to be described as flaunting a freedom?
C. On the other hand, if some people can only or will only (for whatever reason) use and/or endorse only one English translation, is it fair for them to expect all other to agree with them? Consider some sub-points on this one:
First, must an institution of higher learning (college, seminary) require all students to use the same English translation?
Second, must a high school/middle school require the same standard?
Third, should local churches do likewise for teaching and preaching?
10. A person who lives according to their conscience is blessed (Rom 14:22-23).
A. If blessing comes from a clear conscience, should not we try to teach our conscience according to history, scripture, and right reasoning?
B. Obviously we don't want people to violate their conscience. But consider, at what point is a refusal to even try to educate ones's conscience a stubborn attachment to traditions?
C. At what point does a person's conscience overly bind themselves or others to the point where this new defined obedience standard is not required to achieve God's blessing on their life?
11. We must follow the example of Christ, who put others first (Rom 15:1-6).
A. In what ways can Christ be shown towards those who clearly are in false teaching in this area?
B. In what ways can Christ-like edification occur when only one English translation is allowed?
C. In what ways did Christ practice a tolerance for and the same time liberty of OT quotation from both LXX and Masoretic text (one of which would directly offend the audience)?
D. Is the text and translation issue truly a non-essential? Who determines whether it is a non-essential?
E. Are their limits that even Christ taught and practiced toward those who disagreed with his practice of the OT? Did it ever reach a conscience issue level?
12. We bring glory to God when we welcome one another as Christ has welcomed us (Rom 15:7).
A. Again, the parallel between days and meats and the text and translation issue might be a little strained here. If concepts or doctrines such as revelation, inspiration, preservation, or the like are actual doctrinal categories then can there really and truly be doctrinal liberty here? Is this really on the same level as things such as blue jeans, television shows, or reading Harry Potter? Can we agree to disagree on the Trinity or atonement? See the difference.
B. Is this a legitimate application to a conscience issue? Can God truly be glorified if it is false teaching and not just a liberty or non-essential?
Well this article ends here. I hope these three articles on disagreeing with other believers has been benificial. In the end, it is Christ that we must preach to a lost and dying world. It is only in him where we have eternal life. Preach from your Bible. Any Bible. Any translation (even the bad ones are still Bible--if you disagree then you just missed the value of these twelve points). Just preach and teach Christ.
Read your Bible. Enjoy. Comment as needed.
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