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“ An Expansion of Last Week's Message ”
Pastor Nutter revisited the second half of last week's sermon to expand on the practical applications of the strong conscience. The brethren can disagree on indifferent matters and even secondary doctrines. Regardless, the spirit of the church must be LOVE, not UNIFORMITY. This is not feel-goodism, but a practical and essential ingredient to the life of the body. Members are at different places of grace, almost all of whom will change as they grow; they're also strong in some areas and weak in others. A persistent focus on non-primary doctrines--and especially indifferent ones--can lead to church splits, members walking away from the body, and newly elect resisting joining a church, not to mention confusion and stress for the brethren, and a poor witness to a non-believer. The primary doctrines (trinitarian monotheism, the deity of Christ, the fallenness and guilt of man, the five Solas, etc.) are necessary for reformed membership. Secondary doctrines (eschatology, family membership, sabbatarianism, and principles of worship, etc.) are settled in church practice, but not qualifiers of salvation. Indifferent doctrines (dresses v. pants, suits v. casual wear, music styles) are not only without comment in the Scriptures, but are needless points of division among the brethren. |
