05/07/23 FIRST THINGS FIRST

05/07/23 FIRST THINGS FIRST

The birth of Christ is essential.
Knowing the date is incidental.
The death, and resurrection of Christ after three days are essential.
Knowing how many hours in those three days is incidental.
The return of Christ is essential.

Knowing the day and hour is not even possible.
There are other things that I don't know but I don't base my relationship with others on those kinds of things.

I have my view of those unclear areas, and I hold my views because I believe I have Biblical foundation. I also see advantages in my position and I see how my views can be helpful to believers in understanding God's word and living the lives they ought to live. But I do not insist that others adopt my views on incidentals. In fact, I don't insist they adopt my views on the essentials, but I do tell them God requires their acceptance of those essentials.

Even in some essentials, professing Christians disagree with me.

The Bible teaches that God saves His people from sin's penalty, power and pollution and from sinning. Some folks deny this, but I still love them, even though they are wrong.

Men are God's appointed heads of the family. Some folks deny this, but I still love them, even though they are wrong.

The New Testament makes it crystal clear that Christians are not violent and we do not kill others, for any reason. Some folks deny this, but I still love them, even though they are wrong.

If non-essentials cause you to be distanced from a loving, Biblical pastor, then you are having more of a problem than some minor disagreement over incidentals.

Years ago I was learning how to live faithfully as we were moving from Philadelphia to Laodicea, and I took some radical steps as a believer in an environment that was hostile to Christ and His people. Some of my people did not take some of the same steps that I took. I had no problem with that. Each one must walk in his or her own light. We got along fine. I trusted their faithfulness to God and they trusted my preaching and teaching and gave respectful submission to my leadership. Obviously I would not stand for anyone bringing discord and division, but that was not the case.

There are some things that I know that I don't know.
There are some things, in which I may be in error.
But there are some things I know, and I know that I know.

It is a mistake to focus on the incidentals and allow disagreements to hinder your relationship with your pastor or your church.
If it is important, then it is worthy of meaningful discussions and it is worthy of displaying Christian grace.
It is possible that a well learned, faithful pastor has discovered some truths you have not yet learned.
It is possible that you might need to change your mind about some things, (which probably has happened often in your pastor's own walk with God).

Jesus reproved followers who focused on the less important parts of the faith life, while they were being blind to the weightier matters.

Never forget: Christ is the Head of His Church. He sets the rules, the standards, the protocols. We are called to practice the presence of God, and to honor and protect the integrity of His word and His work. 

Ephesians 4:1-6 NKJV
1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.