“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword” (Matt. 10:34).
We have a tendency to want to congregate with people whose values and viewpoints are similar to ours. Too often in Protestantism, we are guilty of forming churches not on the basis of common doctrine, but on the basis of socio-economic lines. But the unity of the New Testament is a unity of faith. People from different ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds should seek to congregate and to work together because of a common commitment to truth and the Gospel.
Today, we have seen attempts to find unity strictly through visible organizational structures. Another way in which we try to find unity is by concentrating our efforts in what we might call “spiritual” unity. Those who use this as their basis of unification claim to be “one in the Spirit,” and they sometimes overlook serious, historical differences in doctrine. For example, a Lutheran, a Baptist, and a Catholic might claim to be “one in the Spirit,” but we must ask how such diverse groups can find unity when the fundamentals of their faith as so different. They can only achieve such unity if they set aside their doctrinal differences. While the fellowship such groups enjoy is real, true unity is only a delusion because doctrinal differences matter.
One thing we must admit is that fundamental doctrinal differences divide. This is historically and biblically true. So, if we want to hold to a common faith, which means holding to a common doctrine, we must expect division because not everyone holds to one common, creedal faith. Believers who are trying to be true to the Scriptures know that there are numerous exhortations to guard the faith once delivered. Paul, for example, was very concerned about those who would undermine the apostolic faith by teaching false doctrine.
Wherever the Gospel is preached faithfully, controversy ensues and people are divided. Jesus made this point when He said that He came to bring a sword, not peace. It is unbiblical to have peace at any cost. Such peace is what Martin Luther called “carnal peace.” Now, we are certainly called to be peacemakers as we proclaim the Gospel to the nations, but that proclamation itself will divide because people don’t want to live by the truth. Because the human heart is hostile to the truth, doctrine will always divide.
To live at peace with all men is to walk a razor’s edge. We need to bend over backwards to keep peace, yet at the same time we are called to keep the purity of the church and to remain faithful to the Scriptures. What can you do to keep the peace among your brothers while remaining faithful to the teaching of Scripture?