Right or Wrong; Faithful or Unfaithful
That’s It!
Several years ago, a preacher was asked his opinion of me and my preaching. His answer to the questioner was, “He doesn’t know which side of the fence he stands on!” You should know that when that preacher was asked regarding me, he knew very little about me, and had never heard me preach, nor had he ever inquired of me anything of a scriptural nature. He simply offered his opinion of me based on his extremely limited knowledge of who I was and where I had been preaching. I will hasten to tell you that several years before his passing, we did have the opportunity to discuss many things, and we developed a very mutual and respectable comradery. He was happy to apologize for his statement of me and later commended me to many of our fellow servants of God. That’s what brethren need to do! (Matthew 18:15 – 20)
Unfortunately, that type of wholesome discussion doesn’t always take place; and when it fails to take place, misrepresentations are sure to follow! Apollos was in error, but Priscilla and Aquilla refused to “label” him verbally or otherwise before the brethren! Instead, they took him privately and taught him the way of the Lord more perfectly (Acts 18:24 – 28). Peter was grievously in error when Paul and he met in Antioch (Galatians 2:11 – 21). But Paul neither “labeled” him, nor published Peter’s sin to the brethren UNTIL he first confronted him face to face and corrected him! (ibid) When Peter later writes about Paul’s writings (2 Peter 3:14-18), note Peter’s commendation of Paul as being “beloved.” John Mark is another whose conduct angered Paul enough to cause separation between himself and Barnabas (Acts 15:39). But note two things: 1) We only know that Mark did not continue with Paul and Barnabas at Pamphylia and 2) the division was settled! (2 Timothy 4:11)
Labeling of brethren has been a type of “branding” upon preachers, authors, and members of the Lord’s church for centuries. Supposedly, the labels are given to somehow identify those who are right versus those who are wrong regarding the Authority of Christ and how well it is accepted. Scripturally, the only two identities I can find in the New Testament for Christians regarding their adherence to the doctrine of Christ are “faithful” or “unfaithful.” Even then, my judgment of another’s adherence to the faith must come from my observation of their words and deeds (John 7:24), and that must be tempered with measuring myself by God’s standard first! (Matthew 7: 1 – 6). Again, as described in Matthew 18:15 – 20, I need also to talk to such a one! If overtaken in a fault, the spiritual must restore the erring one in the spirit of meekness (Galatians 6:1). John says the same in 1 John 5:16, and James agrees in James 5:20. Where is the passage or passages promoting the “labeling” of brethren as “anti, liberal, conservative, progressive, etc.” As we stated, scripturally we find “faithful” or “unfaithful” which means either right or wrong! The right is to be commended and admonished to continue in the faith, rooted and grounded (Ephesians 3:17) while all others are to be taught the truth, and urged to repent and obey God!
“Labeling” is the same as “name-calling.” Surely all of us have experienced the “name-calling” phase of life during our childhood years, and perhaps a bit into our adolescent years. By the time we became adults, we should have put away childish things (1 Corinthians 13:11). That includes “name-calling.” As brethren, can we not admit that many of our brethren are in error regarding their respect for the authority of God and that being so, they need to be TAUGHT rather than castigated for their erring convictions? Must we instead act so childish as to call them names, and avoid them as if they have “cooties” instead of taking God’s Word and asking them in love, “What sayeth the Scriptures?”
Yes, I know Paul’s inspired teaching regarding the fellowship of unfruitful works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11-21), and the Lord helping me, I comply with that directive! I also know that many brethren have not studied seriously and diligently enough to learn that man’s institutions and man’s designs of socializing instead of fellowship are not of the Lord’s church and therefore are not to be tethered to His church as a work of His church! They simply don’t know and/or understand the error! They simply do not understand that if it takes man’s institutions or man’s designs to do and complete the work of the Lord’s church, then God created an imperfect body for His perfect Son!
There are many brethren with whom I agree and thus can and do work hand-in-hand, side-by-side with them. There are many brethren with whom I do NOT completely agree with them regarding their participation in and with the creations of man that claim to complement the authorized work of our Lord. But I still talk to them, and I still love them and call them “friends.” I purposely keep the lines of communication between us open for the purpose of sharing the TRUTH and discussing it with them. They know I don’t agree with them, and most know why! Tell me, how long does it take to teach a soul who has been deceived by error? Granted, with some after the second admonition, we must reject (Titus 3:10 – 11). (You might want to look up the word “heretic.”) Brethren, ALL of us are either right or wrong, faithful, or unfaithful. I aim to please GOD! How about you?