Unity and Doctrine

One of the biggest issues when it comes to ecumenism, unity within the Church, is the issue of doctrine. Very rarely will two people find themselves agreeing on everything when it comes to theological issue, and often there is more than just a little disagreement on doctrinal issues. And it is not just the little things we disagree on, often, indeed VERY often, its the big topics. Authority of Scripture, bodily ressurection of Jesus, how we are saved, authority of scripture, heaven and hell, the divinity of Christ, authority of scripture, the Holy Spirit... Did I mention the authority of scripture? It is after all the one big thing that all other points of debate tend to stem out of.

And so when it comes to trying to be the Body of Christ, in unity amidst our diversity, all these things so often get in the way. After all, how could I POSSIBLY bring myself to seek unity with someone who doesn't believe in Hell? Or someone who doesn't think miracles still happen today? Or someone who doesn't think Jonah was REALLY swallowed by the whale?!?!?!?

Yesterday I was at a joint session with the ministry students from my denomination, and the Anglican students. The topic was Ecumenism, and the speaker (a Historian) who took the first session said something that really stuck with me. He was talking about how over the years the church has become more and more divided, and even today thoughts of division or 'schism' within such denominations as the Anglican Church are still very real, mostly over doctrinal issues. But he pointed out that for the early church fathers, their priorities were actually quite different...

Many of us, especially those who study theology know that in the early church, heresy was a BIG DEAL. If you were a heretic, you were not tolerated. Many of the creeds, writings, statements of faith were not so much stating what was believed as they were attacking what we NOT believed in the true Christian faith. Doctrine was important. False doctrine was dangerous. Theological correctness was valued.

But what we don't often realise is this...

"For the early church fathers - heresy was unacceptable, very serious, must be dealt with... But in the writings of the early church fathers, schism was more serious and unnaceptable than heresy." (paraphrase of Rowan Strong's comment from 6/10/10)

Yes, doctrine is a big deal. Yes, heresy is dangerous and must be treated seriously. But could it be that we are called to work first for unity, fighting against division and schism, and then worry about questionable doctrine???

Just a thought...


http://www.facebook.com/lukefromaus
http://www.twitter.com/lukefromaus