Oct
04
2011
The Blessings of Theological Unity
Last week, I authored a couple posts that drew a lot of reaction and comment. Readers of this blog know that I’m not often wading into theological controversies or choosing sides in the latest Evangelical fads. So, last week was a bit of an anomaly. But it also taught me a lot.
In all of the excellent conversation, the Lord pressed home for me precious theological unity is to the life of faith and partnership in the gospel. I concur with the psalmist who rejoiced, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity” (Ps. 133:1). And given that good and pleasant union I well understand the apostle’s exhortation, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3).
But genuine unity must be grounded in the truth. When our Master prayed for the unity of His disciples, He did so only after praying for their immersion into the truth. ”Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. … I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:17, 20-21). We must root the tree of unity in the soil of truth. Being sanctified by the truth of God’s word could not be more important than in matters of theology, in words about God, our only, loving, saving, coming, sovereign God. For the Father seeks those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). So we confess: “Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place” (Ps. 51:6).
Unity is precious in proportion to the truth on which it’s based. Truth is precious even where there is no unity. Even when truth divides it remains precious. We habitually forget what divine favors flow from locking arms in the truth.
As I’ve reflected a little on the last week, I’ve cherished a few things that spring from theological unity in the truth:
Happiness. Theological unity leads to happiness. Think about it. The persons we’re most likely to rejoice with are the persons who love and understand God the way we do. Our joy is increased by our common embrace of the truth about God. The more important the truth, the more important the unity, and the more glorious the happiness of our fellowship.
Trust. Where theological unity exists, trust reigns. We rest in the confidence that–whatever the circumstance–the brother or sister next to me thinks about and serves God the way we do. Their thoughts are molded by the same God-honoring verities revealed in holy Scripture. Conversely, mendacity destroys trust.
Disagreement. Here’s a hidden benefit. When a group rejoices in the same theological truths–especially on the main matters–it enables them to retain trust and love for one another <i>while they disagree on other matters</i>. Groups bound together by sound theology find themselves able to go to “war” with each other over a host of secondary matters and still leave the table knowing they’d rather be in the foxhole with the very men they just “battled” with. When truth is held by all, disagreement almost never threatens unity but strengthens it. It’s counter-intuitive, but disagreement where men and women hold the same view of God actually leads to greater love for one another.
Focus. You don’t know how precious focus is until you’re pulled away into theological controversy. The controversy can clarify our focus on the theological issues at hand. But we also feel the controversy distracting us from more glorious pursuits. We feel the brakes applied in our souls, the wheel turned to the left or right, and the destination disappearing in the rear view mirror. But let a group commit itself to the same truths about and from God and you’ll see a group possessed by uncommon focus and godly ambition. That’s one of the gifts of theological unity.
Now, sometimes we must work hard for theological unity. We battle a number of misconceptions, from “theology doesn’t matter” to “theology always divides.” The group that downplays the importance of the truth about God and opts for unity based on something else (usually appeals to love) will for a while experience a unity of sorts. Things can be really good. But here’s what they lose: marrow in their spiritual bones, ballast in their wind-tossed boats, the north star for wandering nights, the God who calls us to know Him and enjoy Him.
In the final analysis, there is no knowing God without theology. Or,said another way, there is no knowing God without these words about God. Our knowledge of God gets embodied in the language of theology. Where we disagree theologically, we’re like two persons who think they have a friend in common. At first, they give brief descriptions and references that lead them to believe they’re describing the same person. Then one remarks on a quality the other doesn’t recognize. They look at one another askance. They try to clarify but that leads to another discrepancy in description. Finally, when the discrepancies pile up, they realize they don’t know the same person at all. So it may be with those who try to maintain unity with others who do not know their God. Sooner or later the discrepancies will pile up and we’ll have to conclude we don’t know the same God. It’s better that we realize and acknowledge the mistake sooner rather than later. The unity of God’s people is too precious.
I’m beginning the week rejoicing in the precious gift of unity in the truth. I hope you are, too.
20 Comments
[...] of Theological Unity – Pure … – The Gospel Coalition 3 de outubro de 2011 Origem: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/thabitianyabwile/2011/10/04/the-blessings-of-theological-unity/ About Thabiti Anyabwile. Thabiti Anyabwile is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Grand [...]
I’d like to thank you for your leadership; your posts have been remarkable for their grace and measure.
GV
If the Gospel Coalition Council ever needed a “president” or figure-head, I know who they should choose.
At least, I’d know who I’d want them to choose.
Well said, Pastor.
Reminds me of a quote by Miguel de Unamuno that I have been reflecting on since a vacation in Salamanca, Spain where this is written on a wall near the university: “Primero la verdad, que la paz.” If my translator got this right, roughly translated “First the truth, then peace.”
Thabiti, the example you set in last week’s posts, while diverting from your normal blog content, was a tremendous blessing for me. As a brother who too often engages in conflict and disagreement on all matter of doctrinal issues it was refreshing to witness you taking a stand for the gospel and the work the Lord is doing through TGC even in opposition of such a popular movement/concept. I regularly find myself taking a stand for being right rather than the right handling of the Word or doctrinal necessities. Please continue allowing the Spirit to guide and convict you to write about what you witness in our midsts. There are many who benefit from your work. May God continue to bless you.
[...] We habitually forget what divine favors flow from locking arms in the truth“….[Read entire article at the Pure Church blog] Share this:ShareDiggRedditEmail Authority of Scripture, Biblical Unity, Discernment, Objective [...]
So what does theological unity mean? All must have same theological position? Ie all to hv calvinistic view or armenian OR all to hv charismatic position or ceassationist position?
Michael,
This post wasnt making a case for “all must…” Thabiti is simply expressing the present grace in an environment where Theological understandings align.
Hi Michael and David,
Thanks for coming by the blog and engaging in this post. Michael, I think David answers the spirit of my post quite well.
Practically, however, theological unity gets defined by the statement of faith of our local churches or the organizations we participate in. So, whether the church operates with a Calvinistic or Arminian, continuationist or cessationist position, that gets worked out in the organizing documents. Membership in those bodies then requires adherence to the statement of belief. Our statements of faith ought to be unifying documents if used well.
I hope that helps. Grace and peace to you both,
T-
I love how you tied the thought to its implications within the context of the local church. You would probably think, “Of course I would, where else would its implications come to life?!” But i know and love and disciple multiple men who dont naturally think within the context of the local church so easily. Thanks again.
This is what I take from Pastor Anyabwile’s post:
1) The local Church must be able to trace its roots back to Christ and the Apostle, through the Creeds. (I think that a bare minimum must be the Apostle’s Creed, the “Rule of Faith”, Nicea/Constantinople and Chalcedon.)
2) If a Church must distance itself from a position that the Church has taken in the past, it must be able to clarify how and why it made that decision. It must be able to justify that position Biblically.
3) If a Church must have distinctives, then it must justify those distinctives in a way that other Christians can recognise as Biblically faithful. (They need not agree that the conclusion is Biblical; they need only agree that the conclusion was reached by leaders seeking to be faithful to Scripture).
4) Extreme caution must be taken when a group takes a new approach to theological truths that are essential to Salvation (eg. the Trinity, the Atonement) or when a group takes a new position on Holiness of living (eg. marriage). The burden of proof must be set extremely high in these instances.
Pastor Anyabwile can set me straight if I have read him incorrectly. But if I have read him correctly, there does not seem to be any room for debate here.
gv/jusher
(that should say “from his post and subsequent clarification”. Apologies.)
Pastor,
Thank you for unwavering grace. I think on these lines often, most especially as it relates to God’s Sovereignty (and even more specifically, Sovereign Grace) I have found such powerful unity under this over-arching banner. And have also found it helpful, when differences arise even under this banner, to look at the issue through this lens. Like Jonathan Edwards, “Absolute Sovereignty is what I love to ascribe to God.”
Pastor Anyabwile
Have you read “One Faith” by Thomas Oden and JI Packer? It sets out what Packer and Oden believe to be the evangelical consensus. It is a remarkably “conservative” document – inerrancy is affirmed, for example, as is penal substitution. Unfortunately, it is only available in book form. But it might provide a good way for Reformed and Arminian evangelicals to recognise each other as, well, fellow evangelicals.
gv/jusher
[...] The Blessings of Theological Unity – Pure Church by Thabiti Anyabwile [...]
Dear Pastor Thabiti,
I have been reading your blog for the first time over the past few days having got caught up in the James MacDonald and The Elephant Room issues. I have learned much from you and am now reading one of your books. But above all else, I am learning how to manage that difficult balance of grace and truth, something I struggle with. I have to tell you that the way you respond to the most critical and harsh comments almost takes my breath away in the way you manage that balance. I am wondering if this is more of a natural gift of yours or if you had to work at it over time (you don’t have to answer that). I just want you to know that your blog is helping at least one Christian grow in a way you may never have expected. May God continue to bless your family and your ministry.
I love how you put things so easy to see. Your summing up is so perfect, There is no knowing God without theology.
I add that there is no faith without knowing God as well. I am so astonished these days that people think they can have faith in a God they no little about because they ignore His Word. Without his Word, ie. His warnings, and His promises, how in the world can someone trust in them? As we well know, faith is not something we muster up, it is always a response to something put forth.
And your stating that truth is essential in unity is another one of those no-brainers that amazingly so many people actually disregard as well these days.
I see such a difference between my old unsaved friends who don’t love the truth and myself now with “The love of the truth”. There is no starker difference than that factor to me.
Before I was a christian, I didn’t like the truth if it made me unhappy. Now as a christian I would gladly sacrifice being happy if it meant I had to suppress truth or believe untruth.
Yet I see this being done by some who claim to be christians and I think to myself “something is not right here”.
Thanks again for another well-put post.
[...] The Blessings of Theological Unity. Great post by Thabiti Anyabwile. If you like this one, check out his post on: [...]
[...] it is not one at the expense of the other. Rather it is unity created and maintained by the truth. Thabiti Anyabwile, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Grand Cayman, a Council member with The Gospel Coalition, [...]