Diversity in the Kingdom

Why are there controversial issues in the church?  I’m not talking about apostate groups who have decided to ignore sections of the Bible they don’t like or sects that add “scriptures” to bring in extra teachings.  What I am referring to are Bible believing Christians who love the Lord and desire to serve Him but have radically different views on Biblical interpretation.

Some of the controversies include spiritual gifts, salvation and eternal security, divorce and remarriage, eschatology (end times theology), and predestination vs free-will.  Most of these topics have a range of competing views in which adherents use the same Bible, sometimes the same scriptures, to make their arguments.

So why does God allow this?  There must be a right and wrong answer in most, if not all, of these cases.  For example, speaking in tongues.  I know Godly men and women who speaking in tongues.  I know equally Godly men and women who believe tongues have ceased.  Both cannot be correct.  One group must be incorrect and being wrong in this case would have significant consequences.  If tongues are real, then those who believe they have ceased are missing out on something that God designed to enrich their spiritual lives.  If tongues have truly ceased, then those who operate in that “gift” must be horribly deceived and possibly channeling demons.

Similar consequences await in each and every controversial doctrine.  Therefore, I ask again, why does God allow this?  He knows the correct answer.  Why does he allow people who are sincerely striving to please Him to believe a lie?

The only reasonable (to me) answer is that these issues are not so important to God.  They may be a big deal to us but not to Him.  Christianity is not a list of rules or a set of doctrines but a relationship.  It is a person having a growing, personal, intimate relationship with the Living God.  If a person is sincerely seeking that relationship, then God is not so concerned about their doctrines.

To have a relationship with God a person must come to Him on His terms.  There are some absolute truths that one must accept.  We must believe that we are a sinner and in need of redemption, that salvation is a free gift that God gives us after we repent, that forgiveness only comes as a result of the shed blood and resurrection of Jesus to name a few.  None of these truths are controversial issues.  All true Christians accept these even if they disagree about the other concepts.

I’m convinced that the Kingdom of Heaven is quite diverse.  It contains men, women, and children of every race and nationality.  God’s Kingdom also contains people who believe a wide range of doctrines.  Since we are all members of the Kingdom, we should stop having our petty little civil wars.  The mindset of “my doctrines are better than your doctrines” needs to stop.

I have my doctrines.  I hold a position on every one of those controversial topics mentioned above and I believe I am correct.  However, I know, and have worked with, Christians who have different views.  They love the Lord.  He blesses them and answers their prayers.  They are growing spiritually.  In other words, they exhibit all the hallmarks of a born-again believer.

Someday we will probably know the truth and most of us, including me, will likely realize that we were wrong about some things.  As long as God is pleased with us, it doesn’t really matter.  If God is pleased with someone else, why should we withhold the right hand of fellowship from them just because we disagree with their doctrines?

God is love.  Since we are His children, we should emulate Him and love each other.  That is how Christians are supposed to act (1 John 4:7-8).

Heavenly Father, thank You for calling me to be Your Child.  I am trying to live obediently even though I fail at times.  Give me a heart to love all my brothers and sisters in Christ, even when we disagree about some things.  I know they are trying to obey You just as I am.  Let my love allow the world to see you in me.