Fellowship focus 4 - March 1998
Agreeing without compelling
I used to think the way to get a church near to God and united and blessed was to make sure that everyone agreed with the teaching and took the right line on things. Once people believed the right doctrines and were strict about practices in the right way, we would be nearly there, I thought. Of course we would still need the Spirit, but his power would come readily on a doctrinally correct church, where things were also being done properly.
When I came across Christians who thought that the key to unity and blessing was that we were all centred on Christ, and that one could wait - till we all go to glory if necessary - for complete doctrinal agreement and for everything to be "done properly", I used to think they were mystics, wafflers, compromisers, cowards (well, something in that direction anyway).
Well, I thank God that I've been converted on this matter and now agree with the view I used to deride! It is partly looking at Paul's letter to the Philippians that has led to this, or at least put the last stone in place on my conversion: I've been lecturing on Philippians a bit at the London Theological Seminary recently, and as well as the wonderfully encouraging nature of the whole letter, what has been striking me is the Christ-centredness of it. Alec Motyer's book on it is subtitled "Jesus our joy", and that just about hits the target as to what the letter is about.
In particular, on the theme of unity (which is a theme in Philippians as well as relevant throughout the church's existence on earth), I've noticed ch.4v2, where Euodia and Syntyche must agree with each other. It is the next 3 words that interest me very much now: "in the Lord"! What must that mean? Does it mean they should seek the Lord and his word until he shows them both the same thing and helps them to see what is right - so one of them at least will be led to change her mind, she will come to her senses, and there will be agreement about the matter they have fallen out over (whether it is what Jesus taught about the days just before his return, or a question to do with hospitality for poor people who are not yet truly converted, or whatever)?
Well, it may include that meaning - it would obviously be good if they could genuinely agree, with the Lord's help, about the matters they have fallen out about. But it is very likely that they have already talked about these things and have disagreed, and still disagree. Yet here Paul is telling them to agree in the Lord - not to see if they can! So he must mean something like this: If you still do not agree, if God chooses not to enlighten you yet, in such a way that you agree on the issue(s), agree all the same, i.e. agree to disagree, and not grumpily but happily, not with a continuing bad relationship but with a good, warm one such that you can resume working together; and do so because you both have the Lord, he is in the middle between you, he is the bond between you. Both of you say to him, "Lord, you know the answer even if we don't; and this other person is in you and you love them and I love them for your sake. You are the centre, you the living Lord, not views or doctrines or interpretations or practices or procedures". In such a manner, agree with each other in the Lord.
It seems to me this is wonderful, liberating teaching. It frees us from all the neuroses about everyone having to agree on everything, and "we can't have any disagreements even of a friendly, Christian kind", and "nothing can be done unless everyone agrees", and people who do not agree or go along with "the line" are sort of sidelined or frowned upon - all that is unnecessary and shown up as nonsense, once we see that Christ himself is the centre of the church and the bond of unity. Of course it does not make teaching irrelevant: it is important, in order that we might know Christ aright and know his will and serve him. And if people are far enough away from the right teaching and the behaviour that Christ leads us into, then unity will break down, because the real Jesus is no longer there. But having God himself at the centre of our fellowship, as well as of our individual lives, must be a great boon, not to mention most pleasing to him.
Maybe I'm one of the last in the church to see this clearly, so thank you for bearing with me thus far. Let's all "maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace", Ephesians 4v3 - and notice again there how the unity comes from God, from the Spirit, not from all thinking and acting exactly the same. But it suddenly strikes me: what if you do not agree with me on what I'm saying in this article?! Well, I suppose it will give me an opportunity to practise what I'm preaching!
Chris Bennett.