PREMISE:
If all believers are guided by the Holy Spirit to understand the Word of God, and assuming that many are willing to yield to the Holy Spirit’s leading, the church, over 2000 years, should be gradually approaching a closer understanding of the biblical truth on any given issue and reflecting a greater sense of unity over all.
Problem:
Believers continue to polarize and move into sectarianism. The historically siloed discussions are growing more divisive and hostile as online platforms create more opportunities for people to engage with opposing views. Those professing a faith in Jesus Christ are consistently entrenching within their views. And there is a tendency to radicalize any opposing perspectives. There is also a notable increase in skepticism expressed as false believers or false Christianity. Moreover fueled by the convenience of the internet there is an increased number of debates in which ridicule and dismissiveness are at the forefront. Jesus said this is not how we are to be known (John 13:35).
PRESUPPOSITIONS:
Preservation:
“The words of the Lord are pure words, Like silver tried in a furnace of earth, Purified seven times. You shall keep them, O Lord, You shall preserve them from this generation forever. “Psalm 12:6–7
“The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8
“For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” Mt 5:18
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” Mt 24:35
“…having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because ‘All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the Lord endures forever.’Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.” 1 Peter 23-25
Holy Spirit
“For You will light my lamp; The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.” Psalm 18:28
“But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For ‘who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Cor 2:10-16
“Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.” 2 Tim 2:7
“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.” John 16:13-14
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” John 14:26
“…the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power…” Eph 1:17-18
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” Rom 8:14
Unity:
“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47
“Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” 1 Cor 1:10
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35
BABEL HYPOTHESES:
In the Tower of Babel story (Gen 11:1-9), as humans attempted to build a tower to the heavens and make a name for themselves, God intervened by confusing their ability to understand one another and scattered them. Could it be that when we establish doctrines, God intentionally intervenes through the Holy Spirit to prevent an incorrect consensus? Are denominations akin to towers to heaven, contrary to God’s intentions?
Other Possibilities:
The advantage of the Babel Hypotheses is that it can be discussed without offense to any definition of God’s sovereignty or holiness. It must be acknowledged that my observation of the “problem” could be incorrect. Maybe we are more unified than my perspective allows. It could be because those who cause division get a large share of the attention that this fact alone obscures a greater unity that individuals share on a personal level despite sectarian denominations. If this is the case then why have we not formed a church based around our unity? Another possibility is that there is one true church among the denominations and the rest of them are heretical. In which case we are back to the dilemma of what criteria is to be used to determine this and why haven’t we all by now been led by the Holy Spirit into the true church? And finally, there is the very good chance that I have not thought of all the possibilities.
Proposed Solution:
First, an intentional abandonment of institutional doctrinal beliefs in favor of a whole counsel of God approach to Christian Dogma. (Acts 20:27)
Second, a return to personal convictions as opposed to church-distinctives or doctrinal systems. (Col 2:16)
Third, a renewed commitment to search the scriptures and test teachings as an individual relying on the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to understand Holy Scripture as opposed to a priority on institutional traditions and understandings. (Acts 17:11)
Fourth, an earnest effort to identify as a follower of Christ, far and above any other distinctions isms or ists. (2 Cor 5:17, Gal 2:20, 1 Pt 2:9, Eph 2:10, 1 Cor 12:27)
Example: The doctrine: Jesus Christ was “truly God and truly man.” A well-established doctrine since November 451 AD at the Council of Chalcedon. And a doctrine that all orthodox Christians agree upon.
Instead of quoting the doctrine and resting upon the doctrine simply go back to the foundation for it. And submit to letting any controversy be settled by God’s word and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit or by extension God’s judgement.
“God was manifest in the flesh,
justified in the Spirit,
seen of angels,
preached unto the Gentiles,
believed on in the world,
received up into glory.” 1 Tim 3:16
Or quote:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” John 1:1-3
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14
From either of these passages, the doctrine is presented but when stated as the Council’s conclusion the teaching is open to debate. After all, regardless of its correctness, the doctrine is not inspired and its conclusion is not of divine origin. If instead the foundations are put forth from The Preserved Word of God and the Holy Spirit is trusted with conviction and enlightenment, then I am pressed to bend all understanding to Him. I am drawn by the Holy Spirit to renew my mind not to the conclusion but to the premise itself. I may still fail to grasp the whole implication completely or I may “kick against the goads” but I cannot in good conscience deny that my thoughts must conform to the Word and that my intent must be examined.
epilogue:
Let Your mercies come also to me, O LORD- Your salvation according to Your word.
So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me, For I trust in Your word.
And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, For I have hoped in Your ordinances.
So shall I keep Your law continually, Forever and ever.
And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your precepts.
I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings, And will not be ashamed.
And I will delight myself in Your commandments, Which I love.
My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, Which I love, And I will meditate on Your statutes. – Psa 119:41-48
(version 5.1)
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