I recently passed a sign in front of a church here in Houston, “Love unifies, beliefs divide.” As sad as this is in terms of the “church” it seeks to promote, there is an element of truth in the statement. Beliefs do divide – the only difference in my take on this is that this is a good thing, not a bad thing. I have heard all my life the same old saying, “Why can’t we all just get along?”
Now let me ask you a question… If someone in your church is saying things about U.S. History--let’s say, the dates of the Great Depression-- but these things are not true, will you be able to get along with this person? In all probability, yes – you may disagree with him but you are not going to publically avoid him, confront him or break fellowship. You may decide it is not even worth correcting him. But… If someone is saying publicly, in church, things about your father that are not true-- will you be able to “get along” with this person? If someone is saying publicly, in church, things about your wife that are not true-- will you be able to “get along” with this person? If someone is saying publicly, in church, things about your family that are not true-- will you be able to get along with this person? If this person is spreading lies and half-truths about your family publicly ,in church, you will have to speak up. You will not avoid him, you will confront him and, if he does not stop, you will break fellowship. If those around you say to you, “Why do you have to be so divisive? Why can’t we all just get along?” You will have no patience with that person because of your jealous love of the reputation of your family.
Now what about Jesus? What about the great truths of His life and the salvation He brings? Your jealous love of these truths should fall somewhere between some obscure date in history and your mother’s reputation.
God the Holy Spirit reminds the church over and over not to “stumble” over Jesus. Romans 9:32-33 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 just as it is written, "BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED." 1 Peter 2:7-8 7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, "THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone," 8 and, " A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE"; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed. 1 Corinthians 1:23-24 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
This should not surprise us. Jesus Himself warned us of this reality in John 15:18-21 18 Disciples' Relation to the World " If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 19 "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. 20 "Remember the word that I said to you, ' A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 "But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.
As Easter approaches, it becomes more and more important that we reflect on two questions – first: “What do I believe about Jesus?” and second: “Is it important to me?” You see, God the Holy Spirit reminds us in 1 Peter 3:15, “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;”. We are to be ready to come to the defense of Jesus. We are not to be indifferent to what is said and what is believed about our Savior.
This is hard for us because, as the Holy Spirit has already reminded us, Jesus divides. Consider the above illustration of a person slandering the good name of your family in church with lies and half-truths. In the reconciliation counseling session, the pastor patiently listens to both sides and then says, “This is what we are going to do. The church is not going to take a stand on this issue. Whatever any individual wants to believe or say is up to them. You may say what you want but you cannot argue or divide. We are just going to agree to disagree and not divide over this.” Are you going to be satisfied with that solution? If that is the case with your earthly father, how can you be any more satisfied with false teachings and half truths about Jesus?
Pastoral meetings – Is God the Father indifferent to what we believe about Jesus? When I served as a college chaplain at Oklahoma State University, I was required to belong to The Association of University Ministers to have access to campus privileges. This group of diverse religions and ministries met once a month and had nominal monthly dues. The problem came at the end of the year when it came time to do something with this money. What could Christians, Jews, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Muslims, Hindus, Unitarians and more agree upon? Each year the decision made was to give the money to feed the poor. We could all agree upon this. My suggestion that we bring in an evangelist to do a weeklong series of meetings on the resurrection of Christ and call to repentance was always rejected. Doing good deeds in the name of God is not offensive. Be careful, though, that the good deeds you do could not just as easily be done by a Jew, Muslim, Mormon, Jehovah’s Witness, Hindu or Unitarian. To do a good deed and not give credit to Jesus for your salvation is blatantly dishonest. No good deed should be done as a Christian and as part of a ministry without a clear presentation of the gospel of Christ. To do any good deed as a Christian, as a part of a Christian ministry without including a clear presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is blatantly dishonest.
Worship – Is God the Holy Spirit indifferent to what we believe about Jesus? At each of my children’s universities there was a church which promoted a weekly praise and fellowship night. All campus ministries were invited. There were usually snacks, vibrant singing and fellowship. All those attending would marvel at the unity which praise brings--that this was truly a Spirit-filled meeting. These meetings always came with the exhortation that those attending leave their “doctrines” at the door. You see this type of unity is only possible if the clear teachings on Jesus are left at the door. Be careful that your worship does not come at the expense of Jesus. God the Holy Spirit is not indifferent to what we believe about Jesus. In fact it is God the Holy Spirit who inspired and preserves these teachings about Jesus. In your worship times, do not stumble over Jesus.
Discipleship – Is God the Son indifferent to what we believe about Him? I am often asked to speak on discipleship when we are traveling throughout the world. I remind my listeners, though, that the object of discipleship is not to teach spiritual disciplines apart from Jesus. Any Mormon, Muslim, Jew, Hindu or Jehovah’s Witness will study the Bible, witness, pray and fellowship – they will do this, though, in error. Christ the Center is the core of discipleship. The doctrines of salvation and the lordship of Christ are inseparable from discipleship. Unfortunately, many disciple-making movements have discovered that Jesus is divisive and, as a result, avoid any discussions of the great doctrines of grace and salvation apart from a very ambiguous statement concerning Jesus. The objective of discipleship is not to make disciples of spiritual disciplines but, instead, disciples of Jesus. In your discipleship training make sure you do not stumble over Jesus.
Church membership – Is the church, the Body of Christ, to be indifferent to what we believe about Jesus? There was a time when, to become a member of a church, a Christian had to meet with church leadership and assure them that they were not only Christians but were in agreement with the great doctrines of grace and salvation. However, churches have found that these interviews are offensive-- in fact, requiring church membership is offensive. As a result, it is not unusual in my travels to find those in active leadership positions of a church who are not members, who are not baptized and who reveal, in the course of discussion, that they are not in any way clear on their understanding of the doctrines of Jesus which are clearly stated in the church’s constitution. In your zeal to make your church open to new members, be careful not to stumble over Jesus.
In your youth ministry activities, in your church outreach, on your mission trips-- be careful not to stumble over Jesus. This brings us back to the subject of Jesus. Good works are neither divisive nor offensive. As a result, I see more and more youth ministry activities, church outreach activities and mission trips centered on good works, without a clear call to repentance and acceptance of Christ as Lord and Savior. In your zeal to reach out to others, be careful not to stumble over Jesus.
Remember, you never should go out of your way to make Jesus offensive—that, of course, is sin. However, once you have made your ministry completely and totally inoffensive, you most certainly have stumbled over Jesus.
1 Peter 4:14 “If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”
By His mercy, II Corinthians 4:1 Rev. John S. Mahon Director – Grace Community Int. (Preaching Jesus in 2014 in Zambia, South Africa, Cameroon, Nigeria, Russia and points east…) 2 Corinthians 4:5 “For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord…”
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