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 As
so many have found, maintaining peace and harmony is not always
an easy thing, even among those claiming to be followers of
Christ. It takes a lot of getting along with a lot of different
people under a lot of different circumstances. There are times
when this getting along may require going along. In matters of
judgment and opinion the conscientious Christian is willing to
yield for the good of the group--and is willing to do so without
grudge or enmity. What he proposes or opposes in such matters
will never become more important to him than his love for
brethren (Rom. 13:8-10; Eph. 5:21). Think of the problems that
could be avoided if every Christian would willingly subordinate
his personal preferences to what is best (and acceptable) for
the group! (I think Phil. 2:4 points us in this direction) There
are times, then, when going along helps getting along.
However,
there are other times in which going along is more detrimental
than helpful. Nothing good can come from going along with wrong,
whether it be moral, doctrinal, or any other kind. By going
along with the fornicator in their midst, the Corinthians were
hurting both him and themselves (1 COR. 5). Had this man been a
false teacher instead of a fornicator, the going along would
have been just as wrong. But what if this man's sin had been in
"going beyond what is written" in some other
way?---say, by the promoting of an unauthorized practice into
the work or worship of the local church? Would going along with
such a practice be any more permissible here than with these
other sins? — either then, or some 1900 years later.
With
the flood of liberalism and
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institutionalism that has engulfed the church
in recent years, many longsuffering and conscientious brethren
have, whether through pressure or timidity, gone along with
practices to which they are opposed. Some have so dreaded
controversy and division that appeasing men has been given
precedence over pleasing God (Gal. 1:10). Worse, the kind of men
they seek to appease are generally those who are bound and
determined to have their innovations and "programs" at
any cost. Such promoters have pushed unscriptural programs under
the guise of "expedients" and "optionals",
but defend them as if they were matters of faith. Make no
mistake about it! The "troublers of Israel" are not
those who oppose questionable and unscriptural arrangements, but
those who introduce, push, and support them, even to the
dividing of the church! And to think that these are such as
going-along brethren choose to appease and fellowship!
May
the day soon come when more going-along brethren will stand up
and say, "ENOUGH" : "No longer will we lend our
influence and resources to such!"; "No longer will we
ignore the demands of truth and conscience by fellowshipping
what we oppose!" And may that day be hastened with the
realization that every member of every local church has a
responsibility to Divine truth. No Christian is obligated to
follow elders who lead away from the old paths, nor can he blame
them for his part in such. God ever looks to YOU to demonstrate
your allegiance to Him and His truth as only you can. Will you?
Dan Shipley
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