The White Flag

  have hesitated for a little time to write this article, for I know it is certainly not the “popular” view to take on doctrine. Fortunately, I am comforted by the fact that I am in good company; when has the truth ever been easily accepted by the many? The truth is, spending a considerable amount of time in a Christian chatroom, I have been witness to a wide variety of interpretations of the meanings of the very same sixty-six Books. But the most alarming thing is certainly not the fact that people can look at the same thing and see different aspects, but the widespread acceptance of just about ANY view a person cares to put forth.

Of course, there is no harm in speculating as to the meaning of difficult passages, and no one will EVER hear me say that we should not question Scripture (with an attitude of reverence, naturally), but the movement towards universal acceptance of anything a person cares to believe troubles me deeply. Some will say that everyone is “okay,” as long as they are sincere in their beliefs. To a degree, I believe this, but at the same time, we are NOT to allow anyone to continue in error.

Yah says, “When I say unto the wicked, ‘Thou shalt surely die;’ and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.” (Ezekiel 3:18) Not once, not twice, but three times does the prophet Ezekiel give us this warning; in 3:18, 3:20 and 33:8 of his book. This is such a very important concept that we are given more than even the “two witnesses” Scripture usually contains. It may be that a man may die in error, but because his character is Christlike, he is suited for Heaven (and halleluYah for this provision), but we, who have seen him err, yet have held our tongues for the sake of unity... the punishment which he should have been visited with will be required “at thine hand.”

One of the more unsettling conversations I had in a chatroom went something like this:

Gentleman: So you keep Saturday as your sabbath?
Myself: That’s right.
Gentleman: But surely you know our Lord rose on the first day of the week?
Myself: Indeed, after resting upon the last :)
(noticeable pause)
Gentleman: Well, I believe you love the Lord.
Myself: Yes...
(shorter pause)
Gentleman: Oh, well, the body of Christ has many members.
Myself: True...
Gentleman: Well, I will see you later. God bless!
[Gentleman leaves.]

Now, I don’t have any issue with the gentleman himself, and I’m not going to get into the Sabbath issue in this article (I have numerous other essays about THAT), but the point I am trying to make is this: when did that “many members” scripture become a “white flag” for people discussing doctrine? When has that become the “roll over” sign of surrender when someone sees he won’t make any headway in a discussion? And Christians wonder why we don’t have more scientists and mathematicians in our ranks... we don’t always seem to know what we are talking about, do we? The Word of Yah is a single, perfect, and harmonious message. If we follow the Bible and the Bible alone, we will, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, all arrive at the same conclusions. We may take many different routes to get there, for we will be drawn to different books, and listen to different teachers, but it MUST be that the doctrine of Christ is complete and uncompromising within itself.

Take the Sunday issue, for example. Some Christians will say they keep it because it is the day to which Christ changed the Sabbath, but the commandment still holds (to some degree). Some will say it is because it is the day the early church met most often. Others will declare outright that it’s just more convenient, and that the Law (by this they mean the Commandments) was blotted out at the cross. So which is it? There is “only one way to believe,” so go the lyrics of a song written by a friend of mine. There is a single truth, for although we may not be perfect, and certainly no man can claim to understand every detail of the Word, at the same time, “no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” (2 Peter 1:20)

Agreeing to disagree is not an acceptable option. Believe me, I absolutely loathe quarreling about a subject this precious, and I can’t stand arguments of ANY kind. Paul tells his student Timothy just how disagreements should be handled within the Body: “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” (2 Timothy 2:24-26) I have said this often – no hearts will be won through quarrel. It’s not about being “right,” but about showing the love of Christ in our teaching.

It is by our “fruits” that we shall be known. Judge my doctrine by how it is reflected in my behavior. If you perceive a fault in your brother or sister, do not fail to point it out, BUT – this is a work which requires the uttermost tact and delicacy – it is a gentle surgery, and requires humility, patience, and above all: love. If we have not love for an erring brother or sister, we will come across as being self-righteous, proud and quarrelsome. These things should not be seen in a servant of Christ, who knelt at the feet of His disciples and washed them. “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.” (John 13:14) Anyone who manifests a disposition other than this is unsuited for helping to correct others, regardless of how high up he/she is in the “hierarchy.”

But let’s look at the white flag once more. Christians use the term “inter-denominational” with quite bit of satisfaction, I have noticed – and yet, had Paul’s advice to Timothy been followed, there would BE no denominations. Just casting a net out into the ocean of Christianity and dragging the catch into the boat is not the way to fix the problem. Christ did not sanction any such means, for it is written: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Cr 6:14) I know this verse is most often applied to marriages between believers and non-believers, but in verse 17, he says, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” Paul cannot be speaking of marriage here, for it is he who often preached against leaving an unbelieving spouse. (1 Cr 7:14)

I don’t say the principle isn’t applicable to mixed marriages, it assuredly is, but in this specific line, Paul is talking about doctrine, for in verse 16 he speaks about “the temple” and “idols,” clearly referring to a general case. The way to fix the errors which led to the denominational fragmentation (and yes, it was ERRORS that led to them, and ERRORS which we as the Body support if we remain silent) is to “speak the truth in Christ, and lie not,” (1 Timothy 2:7) using the sword which Christ gave us to cut through the illusions and the deceptions to reveal to the honest seeker the truth. Don’t be afraid to reveal to someone his or her error... be not ashamed of the Gospel, but with love and earnest concern, speak to the individual, and if they are true of heart, they will thank you for it. 1Th 5:5: “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.” Eph 5:8: “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.”

“Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.” (Isaiah 1:16 & 17) So says the prophet, and so will every genuine child of Heaven do. “My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of His correction,” (Proverbs 3:11), because “A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent,” (Proverbs 15:5), and we know this is true, and important since “Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.” (Pro 15:10)

In regards to inter-denominational gatherings, the Scripture says this of the day when men and women will be chosen for eternal life or everlasting separation: “I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.” (Luke 17:34-36) People may be working together, playing together, sleeping together, certainly worshipping together, yet whereas one may have the character of Christ, the other may not be ready. Are we to simply let them persist in a Biblically unsound belief simply for the sake of peace under the banner of unity or tolerance? If the law and requirements of Yah could be changed in the LEAST, His Son need not have died. For what did Adam do but bite into a piece of fruit? No, it WASN’T a big deal in itself – the transgression came not from the act, but the disobedience. Death seems like a harsh punishment for so small an infraction, but it is because of that very fact – the test was easy – that the wages were so severe.

Abraham, who had inherited the sin nature, had a MUCH harder test, when told to sacrifice his son, yet he prevailed. Job had a harder test, yet he also prevailed. Christ had the most difficult test there was, and He was a conqueror. And why? Because they trusted the Father. They did what Adam failed to do, and for this reason alone they triumphed. We are to do the same, trust fully in the Father. Like Christ, we are to be “more than conquerors” over the things of this world, and “whosoever shall do [this] and teach the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Mat 5:19)

Those who use the statement “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:” (Romans 12:4) should consider verses just below it, where Paul explains that he is speaking of just that... “offices” or jobs. This has nothing to do with doctrine, for he said often, “But now are they many members, yet but ONE body.” (1 Cr 12:20) We are to be ONE in beliefs and doctrine, or else we are NOT of the same body. Just as the disciples once strove for different imagined prizes, each cherishing errors as to the nature of the Kingdom, or who would be greatest, the Holy Spirit, which enabled them to teach and be effective vessels, was only given to them when they were in “one accord” (Acts 2:1). Yah is a God of order, He will not function where there are differences of beliefs among the members.

When the Israelites sinned in the wilderness, this resulted: “And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.” (Exodus 33:7) Consider that the tabernacle was outside of the main settlement, YET it was called the Tabernacle of the congregation two times. That was not a typo. The Israelites who persisted in error were NOT considered a part of the assembly! In New Testament terms, they were not members of the “body” at that time. Yet, the faithful KNEW their errors, and they went to where the truth was, they didn’t sit back and wait for the truth to go to them.

For any who think to wave that “white flag” to justify some position which cannot be shown plainly from Scripture, let them consider the words of the Redeemer Himself, and see if it does not apply to the error they are advocating. “And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into Hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.” (Matthew 5:29 & 30) These witnesses have spoken.

David.