WEBVTT 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:04.740 Good evening everyone. This is a great topic to be thinking about during a general election campaign. 00:00:05.299 --> 00:00:11.000 How can we agree to disagree? Not much of that's happening at the moment around the country. 00:00:12.380 --> 00:00:19.740 When Justin Welby became Archbishop of Canterbury in 2013, he took leadership of the broadest of broad churches. 00:00:20.760 --> 00:00:26.460 In Scotland, the Presbyterian Church, when there's been a major disagreement, has tended to split. 00:00:26.460 --> 00:00:31.240 If you go in Denver, you'll find all sorts of Presbyterian churches of different hues. 00:00:32.060 --> 00:00:43.679 The church in England, the Anglican Church, by and large, has chosen to stay together in a slightly uneasy coalition of evangelicals, liberals and Anglo-Catholics. 00:00:44.679 --> 00:00:48.439 It disagrees internally on all sorts of things. 00:00:49.299 --> 00:00:54.960 Recent disagreements would be over things like same-sex marriage or whether they should have women bishops. 00:00:54.960 --> 00:01:00.060 And there are lots of things where the Church of England internally disagrees. 00:01:01.200 --> 00:01:05.480 And Justin Welby looked at that. He became Archbishop of Canterbury and said, 00:01:05.680 --> 00:01:11.340 we need to think as a church of what good disagreement means. 00:01:12.140 --> 00:01:15.099 We need to balance grace and truth. 00:01:15.840 --> 00:01:19.980 On one hand, we want to deal graciously with our brothers and sisters in Christ 00:01:19.980 --> 00:01:23.159 and to show them the love of Christ in everything we do. 00:01:23.159 --> 00:01:27.759 But on the other hand, we need to define what is it that the Church stands for? 00:01:28.179 --> 00:01:30.679 What are the things that are non-negotiable? 00:01:31.119 --> 00:01:34.379 What are the truths that we must agree on? 00:01:34.719 --> 00:01:42.019 And so he started what I think is quite an interesting discussion over the last few years in the Church of England about good disagreement. 00:01:42.299 --> 00:01:46.759 And later on, I'll probably recommend a book in which I found quite helpful on that. 00:01:46.760 --> 00:01:51.219 Now, we're not as broad a church as the Church of England. 00:01:51.359 --> 00:01:55.080 Perhaps broader than it sometimes appears, but certainly not that broad. 00:01:55.480 --> 00:02:01.100 But it's still a relevant question for us because we're not going to agree on everything. 00:02:01.939 --> 00:02:07.140 The only way we'd agree on everything would be if we all had perfect understanding and perfect wisdom, 00:02:07.140 --> 00:02:09.719 and we know that's not the case. 00:02:09.780 --> 00:02:14.360 We disagree on all sorts of things, and we want to disagree well, 00:02:14.740 --> 00:02:18.680 and we want to know when it is okay, as the question says, to disagree, 00:02:19.219 --> 00:02:22.560 and when it's not okay to disagree. 00:02:22.560 --> 00:02:27.539 Now, I'm going to limit a little what I'm going to talk about this evening. 00:02:27.860 --> 00:02:29.680 We disagree on all sorts of things. 00:02:30.199 --> 00:02:33.479 We might disagree on what did we think of the speaker last Sunday, 00:02:33.620 --> 00:02:35.860 or what should the floor covering the upstairs hall be? 00:02:36.020 --> 00:02:41.539 Not trivial things, but perhaps not critical in the big picture. 00:02:42.099 --> 00:02:47.580 So we're going to be looking this evening only at disagreement over what the Bible teaches 00:02:47.580 --> 00:02:50.819 and what we should do as a result. 00:02:50.819 --> 00:02:57.759 When is it okay for us to agree to disagree about these things? 00:02:58.519 --> 00:03:02.959 I'm going to take one question, when, and I'm going to try to answer it with three other questions, 00:03:03.340 --> 00:03:06.000 which are why, what, and how. 00:03:06.180 --> 00:03:09.919 So for your relatives, you remember why, what, and how. 00:03:11.120 --> 00:03:12.319 So we start with the why. 00:03:13.079 --> 00:03:15.599 Why do we disagree? 00:03:16.439 --> 00:03:18.900 And there are good reasons for disagreeing, 00:03:18.900 --> 00:03:22.420 and there are bad reasons for disagreeing. 00:03:23.200 --> 00:03:26.920 So bad reasons for disagreeing I've called pride and prejudice. 00:03:27.900 --> 00:03:30.939 Pride is to do with our relationships with each other. 00:03:31.860 --> 00:03:35.540 And it's about me wanting to be seen to be better than others, 00:03:36.080 --> 00:03:41.159 perhaps even me just not liking someone else and disagreeing almost out of principle because of that. 00:03:41.159 --> 00:03:49.300 But it is the personal thing that I'm disagreeing because of my relationship with someone else. 00:03:49.900 --> 00:03:54.699 Church in Corinth, you may remember, had a big disagreement about who the best leaders were. 00:03:54.900 --> 00:03:58.879 Some people said, well, I support, I'm part of the party of Peter Cephas. 00:03:59.340 --> 00:04:00.579 Some of them said, well, I'm Paul. 00:04:00.680 --> 00:04:01.840 Some said I'm Apollos. 00:04:01.840 --> 00:04:04.000 And then some said, I'm Christ. 00:04:04.460 --> 00:04:06.180 And you might think, well, that's quite good. 00:04:06.400 --> 00:04:08.980 But actually, probably they were trying to look down on the others and say, 00:04:09.060 --> 00:04:14.259 we're superior to you because we look to Christ rather than to anyone else. 00:04:14.740 --> 00:04:16.300 So factions had come in. 00:04:16.660 --> 00:04:19.500 Pride had got into the church. 00:04:19.759 --> 00:04:22.319 And it was really dividing it. 00:04:22.319 --> 00:04:29.000 One of the great heresies that the early church had to contend against was something called Gnosticism. 00:04:29.659 --> 00:04:34.279 And Gnostics were people who thought they had superior knowledge and insight. 00:04:34.339 --> 00:04:41.120 And again, they looked down on others and they disagreed with them because they thought they were better than other people. 00:04:42.000 --> 00:04:49.620 So having pride or disagreeing because of our personal relationship is a very bad reason for disagreeing. 00:04:50.459 --> 00:04:51.519 Then there's prejudice. 00:04:51.519 --> 00:04:58.379 Prejudice is how we come to look at Scripture and we make Scripture say what we want it to say. 00:04:59.299 --> 00:05:01.620 Now, that might come out of the way we grew up. 00:05:01.740 --> 00:05:04.579 Maybe we're taught in a certain way as we grew up. 00:05:04.899 --> 00:05:11.599 And either we follow that way or perhaps even we've rebelled against it and we're inclined to things that are the opposite of it. 00:05:12.359 --> 00:05:15.120 Or perhaps we follow a certain school of theology. 00:05:15.120 --> 00:05:21.459 We have a nice book of theology, of doctrine that we refer to in every circumstance. 00:05:21.899 --> 00:05:28.500 And we try to make every Scripture fit in with that rather than thinking through what is the Bible actually saying to us. 00:05:28.500 --> 00:05:36.459 Or perhaps we find at times that the plain meaning of Scripture doesn't really fit in with our lifestyle. 00:05:36.459 --> 00:05:41.419 The way we're living doesn't appear to conform to Scripture. 00:05:41.620 --> 00:05:49.159 And so we try to make Scripture say what we would want it to say and to tie in with how we are living. 00:05:49.299 --> 00:05:50.560 And that clearly is wrong. 00:05:50.560 --> 00:06:01.600 If we come to Scripture with our own preconception, our own ideas of what it should say, then we're liable to get the wrong view from it and disagree wrongly with others. 00:06:03.740 --> 00:06:05.220 Positively, why make me disagree? 00:06:05.840 --> 00:06:07.680 And I've called that guard the gospel. 00:06:07.819 --> 00:06:09.660 That was Paul's instruction to Timothy, wasn't it? 00:06:09.920 --> 00:06:11.240 Guard the gospel. 00:06:11.240 --> 00:06:25.300 Now at that big level, and we'll be thinking a little bit about this later on, that means hold firm to the truths of the gospel and contend, confront anyone who disagrees with the fundamental truths. 00:06:25.680 --> 00:06:28.759 Pastor Spence, a bit more wide than that, though. 00:06:29.439 --> 00:06:33.060 And it is to say we want to look at the Scripture. 00:06:33.600 --> 00:06:36.079 I want to assess what it says. 00:06:36.340 --> 00:06:40.040 Try and work out what it is saying to the world and to me. 00:06:40.040 --> 00:06:46.840 And to be willing to stand up for that and have a discussion with others if I don't agree with them. 00:06:47.500 --> 00:06:56.560 So perfectly valid at times for us to have different views of what the Scripture says and therefore to be in disagreement about it. 00:06:58.280 --> 00:07:01.680 But then there's the question of why would we agree to disagree? 00:07:01.680 --> 00:07:10.819 Accepting that we will sometimes disagree, why would we agree to disagree and say, okay, we'll get on with things, but we'll disagree on this point? 00:07:11.800 --> 00:07:13.259 Again, there's a bad reason. 00:07:13.920 --> 00:07:17.079 The bad reason is simply to avoid conflict. 00:07:17.860 --> 00:07:20.379 To give us an easy life. 00:07:21.560 --> 00:07:26.699 The kind of laissez-faire approach, which maybe is quite prevalent in many ways in our world. 00:07:26.699 --> 00:07:33.219 What you believe, what you believe, I'll believe what I believe, and let's not worry about the details of it. 00:07:34.399 --> 00:07:46.500 Now, when it comes to the Gospel and to the fundamental truths of our faith, we cannot agree to disagree simply to avoid getting into conflict or argument with others. 00:07:46.500 --> 00:07:51.920 The things that are basic are things that must be stood up for, that must be defended. 00:07:53.300 --> 00:07:59.399 But the good reason for agreeing to disagree is to maintain unity in the church. 00:08:00.379 --> 00:08:04.540 To say to each other, we are brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus. 00:08:05.579 --> 00:08:08.459 Yes, we agree, disagree on certain things. 00:08:08.459 --> 00:08:16.599 They're not things that are absolutely fundamental to faith, and we want to remain united in the body of Christ. 00:08:17.219 --> 00:08:28.799 We don't want to get distracted from our main job, which is to glorify God and to preach the Gospel by these things which ultimately are not of primary importance. 00:08:28.800 --> 00:08:43.240 We as Christians are united in Christ, and we wish to remain that way, and therefore there are occasions when we will agree to disagree and maintain unity within the church. 00:08:43.980 --> 00:08:51.240 But only on things that are not of the primary importance, that are not the most important in terms of the Gospel. 00:08:51.240 --> 00:08:58.360 So let's move on and look at that, and having thought about why, let's have a think about what. 00:08:59.220 --> 00:09:06.960 And I've developed just a little scale going from things that I think are non-negotiable in terms of agreeing and disagreeing, 00:09:07.320 --> 00:09:11.120 to things which ultimately we might call trivial, that are unimportant. 00:09:11.539 --> 00:09:18.460 If we disagree over them, it doesn't matter, and we mustn't get involved in heated arguments about it. 00:09:18.460 --> 00:09:20.519 So let's start at the top. 00:09:21.660 --> 00:09:28.540 We cannot disagree or agree to disagree on what it means to have saving faith. 00:09:29.500 --> 00:09:32.379 What does it mean to be a Christian? 00:09:33.320 --> 00:09:39.680 And we all, I'm sure, would agree that what it means to be a Christian is to recognize that the only way to God, 00:09:40.019 --> 00:09:45.240 the only way for forgiveness of our sins, is through the Lord Jesus. 00:09:45.240 --> 00:09:53.080 To put it in the Bible terms, to become a Christian is to believe in Jesus. 00:09:53.740 --> 00:09:59.980 Whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life, says John. 00:10:01.399 --> 00:10:09.360 And if you and I agree together that our belief in Jesus is what binds us together, 00:10:09.539 --> 00:10:12.919 we are brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus. 00:10:12.919 --> 00:10:23.120 If we can't agree that faith in Jesus is the only way to God, then we have a fundamental difference between us. 00:10:23.500 --> 00:10:27.199 Now we could have some discussion about what does it mean to believe in Jesus. 00:10:27.899 --> 00:10:30.759 And let me suggest one thing from John and one thing from Paul. 00:10:31.579 --> 00:10:33.679 So John says at the end of the gospel, 00:10:33.679 --> 00:10:44.659 So it's about who Jesus is. 00:10:45.679 --> 00:10:48.279 And then Paul in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, 00:10:48.279 --> 00:10:49.139 he says, 00:10:49.139 --> 00:11:05.100 So in other words, that is about what Jesus has done. 00:11:05.659 --> 00:11:08.279 Who Jesus is and what he has done, 00:11:08.779 --> 00:11:15.500 these are the two things which are vital to believing in him and to having saving faith. 00:11:15.500 --> 00:11:19.659 And we cannot agree to disagree with anyone who says, 00:11:19.759 --> 00:11:21.159 Well, Jesus was just a man. 00:11:21.419 --> 00:11:24.059 He wasn't really the Son of God, just a good man. 00:11:24.440 --> 00:11:27.480 Nor can we agree to disagree with anyone who says, 00:11:27.779 --> 00:11:29.840 Well, I recognize Jesus is a good man. 00:11:29.919 --> 00:11:31.139 I recognize he died on the cross. 00:11:31.419 --> 00:11:37.500 But it is still through my own work in some kind of shape or form that I get right with God. 00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:41.039 This is the absolute non-negotiable for Christians. 00:11:41.139 --> 00:11:43.399 We cannot agree to disagree on this. 00:11:43.399 --> 00:11:46.159 Jesus is the only way to God, 00:11:46.519 --> 00:11:51.240 God's Son who died on the cross and who rose again. 00:11:51.939 --> 00:11:54.220 So that is saving faith. 00:11:55.100 --> 00:11:57.799 And someone may be my brother and sister in Christ. 00:11:57.919 --> 00:12:00.079 They may not understand anything about the Holy Spirit. 00:12:00.539 --> 00:12:02.860 They may not understand about the inspiration of Scripture. 00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:06.340 All the things that we would say were fairly fundamental in our faith. 00:12:06.340 --> 00:12:10.240 But if they have a saving faith in the Lord Jesus, if they believe in him, 00:12:10.460 --> 00:12:14.360 then they are my brother or my sister in Christ. 00:12:15.500 --> 00:12:18.160 But there are other things which are really important. 00:12:18.740 --> 00:12:21.660 And I've called them gospel truth. 00:12:22.460 --> 00:12:25.120 Now, these are the kind of things that down the centuries, 00:12:25.540 --> 00:12:29.000 people have put into creeds and statements of faith 00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:33.960 and have said these are the things which are important in our faith. 00:12:34.039 --> 00:12:36.379 These are the things which we believe 00:12:36.379 --> 00:12:41.120 and which anyone who takes the Bible seriously will also believe. 00:12:41.980 --> 00:12:45.000 We have a list of things which call what we believe. 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:46.120 It's over on the wall over there. 00:12:46.179 --> 00:12:47.759 If you want to look at it, it's on the website. 00:12:48.299 --> 00:12:51.700 The fundamental things that we as a church believe. 00:12:51.960 --> 00:12:54.639 Very similar to the Evangelical Alliance Statement of Faith, 00:12:54.980 --> 00:12:56.580 which does a similar thing. 00:12:56.580 --> 00:13:00.080 And these are things which talk about the Lord Jesus. 00:13:00.220 --> 00:13:01.520 We talk about God the Father first. 00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:03.480 They talk about humans and our condition, 00:13:03.879 --> 00:13:06.600 about the Lord Jesus, about Scripture, about the Holy Spirit, 00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:08.740 and about the Lord's return. 00:13:09.160 --> 00:13:12.680 These kind of things which, as Evangelical Christians, 00:13:12.680 --> 00:13:17.240 we hold as being fairly fundamental to our faith. 00:13:17.920 --> 00:13:21.240 Yes, it's possible to be a Christian and not understand these things. 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:25.780 But if you have come to know Jesus and are taking the Bible seriously, 00:13:25.779 --> 00:13:31.679 then before very long you should come to understand and believe in these things. 00:13:32.259 --> 00:13:33.740 And I would say for us, 00:13:34.059 --> 00:13:38.899 these also are things we cannot agree to disagree on in church. 00:13:39.779 --> 00:13:42.360 If you choose to become a member of this church, 00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:46.699 it is expected that you will agree with all of the things 00:13:46.699 --> 00:13:50.179 in what we believe in our statement of faith. 00:13:50.179 --> 00:13:54.739 The fundamental things that define Evangelical Christianity. 00:13:55.559 --> 00:13:57.359 They're very important. 00:13:58.859 --> 00:14:00.139 If we move down again, 00:14:01.199 --> 00:14:05.139 there are a number of things which I've called important but secondary. 00:14:05.339 --> 00:14:10.839 And I've divided that into doctrinal and practical for a reason which I'll explain in a minute. 00:14:10.840 --> 00:14:15.000 So these are things which, in the interpretation of Scripture, 00:14:15.580 --> 00:14:19.460 people who are Bible-believing Evangelicals might disagree on, 00:14:19.800 --> 00:14:25.399 but they are important and we need to think them through and have a view on them. 00:14:26.280 --> 00:14:28.440 So we look at the doctrinal ones first. 00:14:28.940 --> 00:14:32.259 Let me give you a kind of big illustration of that. 00:14:32.259 --> 00:14:35.580 When people look at God's plan of salvation, 00:14:36.259 --> 00:14:40.340 there are two main ways in which Evangelicals would look at it. 00:14:40.720 --> 00:14:42.519 One is called covenant theology, 00:14:43.059 --> 00:14:45.860 and the other is called dispensational theology. 00:14:45.980 --> 00:14:46.679 You may have heard of them. 00:14:46.980 --> 00:14:48.620 You may be familiar with them. 00:14:50.059 --> 00:14:51.500 On a very simplistic level, 00:14:52.120 --> 00:14:55.039 covenant theology says that since the fall, 00:14:55.039 --> 00:15:00.139 there has been a covenant of grace between God and human beings. 00:15:00.139 --> 00:15:03.240 And it's been gradually revealed over a series of covenants 00:15:03.240 --> 00:15:05.500 with Noah, with Abraham, with Moses, and so on, 00:15:05.779 --> 00:15:08.699 culminating in the new covenant through the Lord Jesus. 00:15:09.240 --> 00:15:11.779 But overarching it, it is one covenant. 00:15:12.179 --> 00:15:14.679 There's one story of Scripture. 00:15:16.100 --> 00:15:19.799 Dispensational theology says there are different periods, 00:15:19.980 --> 00:15:24.759 different dispensations in the history of mankind. 00:15:24.759 --> 00:15:27.539 Two very big ones, the dispensation of law, 00:15:27.539 --> 00:15:30.399 which was the period from Moses to Christ, 00:15:30.819 --> 00:15:34.120 and the dispensation of grace, which is the church era. 00:15:35.079 --> 00:15:39.459 And dispensationalists say the way that men and women related to God 00:15:39.459 --> 00:15:42.939 was very different, particularly in these two periods. 00:15:43.559 --> 00:15:46.039 In the Old Testament, you had the law of Moses, 00:15:46.579 --> 00:15:48.099 you had the sacrificial system, 00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:53.299 you had the very detailed ceremonial and food laws, and so on. 00:15:53.299 --> 00:15:56.079 And in the New Testament, that is all swept away, 00:15:56.539 --> 00:16:02.319 and we now have access to God only through faith in Christ Jesus. 00:16:03.879 --> 00:16:04.740 Now, you might say, 00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:08.279 these are both interesting ways of looking at the history. 00:16:08.719 --> 00:16:09.779 Does it make any difference? 00:16:09.859 --> 00:16:12.199 They're both helpful in their own way. 00:16:13.259 --> 00:16:17.319 One of the things you find whenever you look at these things 00:16:17.319 --> 00:16:21.620 is that what you believe does affect how you act. 00:16:21.620 --> 00:16:26.500 So if you don't believe the gospel truth that we've talked about earlier on, 00:16:26.820 --> 00:16:29.299 that will probably have effects on your lifestyle, 00:16:30.080 --> 00:16:31.899 on your approach to morality, 00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:35.340 on your approach to relationship with others, and so on. 00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:38.840 And when it comes to covenant and dispensational theology, 00:16:39.500 --> 00:16:42.159 less significant differences, but there are some. 00:16:43.240 --> 00:16:47.139 So, for example, if you adhere to covenant theology, 00:16:47.139 --> 00:16:50.559 you see the Old Testament and the New Testament almost as one, 00:16:50.620 --> 00:16:53.480 it's a kind of artificial division in the middle. 00:16:54.120 --> 00:16:54.860 And you might say, 00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:58.220 Israel in the Old Testament is the church, 00:16:58.279 --> 00:16:59.139 the equivalent of the church, 00:16:59.360 --> 00:17:02.019 and the church is Israel in the New Testament. 00:17:02.819 --> 00:17:04.879 And so then when you read Old Testament passages, 00:17:05.420 --> 00:17:07.700 you look in them for the Lord Jesus, 00:17:07.819 --> 00:17:09.700 you try to see Christ in every passage, 00:17:09.700 --> 00:17:14.779 and to say, well, there's just one way of approaching God throughout history, 00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:18.620 it is through faith, albeit expressed in different ways. 00:17:18.960 --> 00:17:22.680 But you've probably spent quite a lot of time studying the Old Testament. 00:17:23.559 --> 00:17:25.759 If you take a dispensational view of things, 00:17:26.080 --> 00:17:28.620 there will be quite a large portion of the Old Testament 00:17:28.620 --> 00:17:31.360 where you might say, well, these are of historic interest, 00:17:31.700 --> 00:17:35.259 they're of interest in the development of faith through the Scripture, 00:17:35.259 --> 00:17:39.220 but they're not directly relevant to us today. 00:17:39.319 --> 00:17:43.220 And we won't try to read more into them than is there on the surface. 00:17:43.339 --> 00:17:44.759 Now, as you may know, 00:17:44.839 --> 00:17:48.019 a dispensationalist very often they look at types and shadows, 00:17:48.140 --> 00:17:49.200 in particular, past the Scripture, 00:17:49.379 --> 00:17:50.660 and see in them the Lord Jesus. 00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:52.579 But as a generalization, 00:17:53.160 --> 00:17:56.379 they would tend to take a more literal view of the Bible. 00:17:57.039 --> 00:18:00.140 And so might spend less time studying the Old Testament 00:18:00.140 --> 00:18:03.599 than those who adhere to covenant theology. 00:18:03.599 --> 00:18:06.279 It might also affect your worldview. 00:18:07.699 --> 00:18:09.619 Dispensationists will tend to believe normally 00:18:09.619 --> 00:18:12.419 that there's a future for the nation of Israel. 00:18:12.500 --> 00:18:14.019 You have the nation of Israel in the Old Testament, 00:18:14.139 --> 00:18:15.159 you've now got the church, 00:18:15.480 --> 00:18:19.059 but God has plans for the future for the nation of Israel. 00:18:19.379 --> 00:18:23.379 And that will affect their view of how the Middle East situation is, 00:18:23.679 --> 00:18:26.599 and perhaps their political views as well. 00:18:27.459 --> 00:18:29.719 Now, we need to be careful not to exaggerate too much, 00:18:29.720 --> 00:18:34.420 because dispensation and covenant theology can agree on lots and lots of things. 00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:37.480 But it is something that's important to think through, 00:18:38.079 --> 00:18:41.680 but very much of secondary importance. 00:18:43.539 --> 00:18:46.140 Practical things, in some ways, are more difficult. 00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:50.539 We can agree to disagree on the doctrinal things, 00:18:50.600 --> 00:18:54.200 and as long as one side doesn't preach too vigorously against the other 00:18:54.200 --> 00:18:59.819 and put them down, then in a church we can agree to disagree on some of these things. 00:19:00.380 --> 00:19:05.039 But if you're a church, you either practice infant baptism or you don't. 00:19:05.740 --> 00:19:09.480 You either have speaking in tongues at your service or you don't. 00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:12.940 You either have women preaching or you don't. 00:19:12.940 --> 00:19:16.000 And so this isn't the kind of thing where we say, 00:19:16.120 --> 00:19:17.340 well, we just agree to disagree, 00:19:17.600 --> 00:19:19.980 and you can do what you want and I do what I want, 00:19:20.080 --> 00:19:23.840 because we have to have one practice in church. 00:19:24.420 --> 00:19:26.779 And again, if you sign up to the church at Branceville, 00:19:26.840 --> 00:19:29.279 we're not asking you to agree necessarily with what we do, 00:19:29.340 --> 00:19:35.000 but we're certainly asking you to go along with the practical things that we do as a church. 00:19:35.620 --> 00:19:39.320 We can't agree to disagree in the sense that I do one and you do the other, 00:19:39.320 --> 00:19:42.740 because we're one church and we work together. 00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:46.580 But these things are definitely secondary. 00:19:47.700 --> 00:19:50.400 They're the things that churches can fall out about, 00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:55.120 and certainly the things you see differences between different denominations in the way they work, 00:19:55.299 --> 00:20:00.360 but they're not of primary importance in terms of gospel truths. 00:20:00.940 --> 00:20:04.580 And they shouldn't affect us working with other Christians, other believers, 00:20:05.059 --> 00:20:08.080 evangelical Christians with the same faith in the Lord Jesus. 00:20:08.079 --> 00:20:16.659 If we disagree in these things, then it is not that big a deal in terms of working together for the gospel. 00:20:18.039 --> 00:20:21.139 Sometimes, sometimes, even within the church, 00:20:21.519 --> 00:20:26.279 some of the practical things we can work together to agree to disagree. 00:20:26.779 --> 00:20:28.359 So to give an example from this church, 00:20:28.359 --> 00:20:31.919 in this church we have quite a large group of people 00:20:31.919 --> 00:20:34.879 who believe that the New Testament pattern for communion 00:20:34.879 --> 00:20:38.019 is you meet to break bread on the first day of every week, 00:20:38.319 --> 00:20:40.539 that you have a period of open worship, 00:20:40.939 --> 00:20:44.139 hymns, prayers, readings. 00:20:44.579 --> 00:20:46.439 You then give thanks and take the bread, 00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:48.880 and then give thanks and take the cup. 00:20:49.259 --> 00:20:52.380 And that's what happens every Sunday morning at 10 o'clock. 00:20:53.320 --> 00:20:54.680 We have other people who say, 00:20:54.820 --> 00:20:58.200 well, the exact frequency isn't that important 00:20:58.200 --> 00:21:01.140 as long as we have communion regularly, 00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:04.920 and the exact form doesn't really matter that much either. 00:21:05.460 --> 00:21:08.019 We can give thanks for the bread and the cup together. 00:21:08.580 --> 00:21:12.019 We can even take them in the opposite order. 00:21:12.019 --> 00:21:19.200 And in this church, we have tried to accommodate both sets of people. 00:21:19.319 --> 00:21:21.500 Now, in some ways, these things are always a bit uneasy, 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:24.720 but we have a communion service every Sunday at 10 o'clock, 00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:28.220 and once a month, we have communion at the old age. 00:21:28.259 --> 00:21:29.579 And the two look quite different, 00:21:30.039 --> 00:21:33.000 but both of them are people trying to remember the Lord Jesus 00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:34.599 as he has commanded, 00:21:35.279 --> 00:21:40.019 and to worship him as they think upon his death. 00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:41.879 So sometimes in practical things, 00:21:42.200 --> 00:21:45.859 we can agree to disagree and accommodate different views. 00:21:46.440 --> 00:21:47.980 Often, we can't. 00:21:48.940 --> 00:21:51.039 Slightly wider reading of practical 00:21:51.039 --> 00:21:54.680 would be the kind of thing we were looking at in Romans 14 earlier on, 00:21:55.059 --> 00:21:58.900 which has to do with conscience and what I feel able to do. 00:21:59.440 --> 00:22:01.079 So in that situation, you had people, 00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:04.859 some people who felt that they needed to be vegetarians, 00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:06.400 that they didn't want to eat meat, 00:22:06.460 --> 00:22:08.319 and as a matter of conscience, didn't do it 00:22:08.319 --> 00:22:09.879 or didn't eat particular kinds of meat. 00:22:10.019 --> 00:22:14.619 And you had other people who felt free to eat whatever they wanted. 00:22:15.799 --> 00:22:18.000 And Paul said, that's fine. 00:22:18.940 --> 00:22:21.059 Neither of you is sinning in your belief. 00:22:21.160 --> 00:22:25.119 In fact, you would be sinning if you did the opposite of what you believed in. 00:22:26.200 --> 00:22:28.259 But just be aware of others, 00:22:28.660 --> 00:22:30.859 and show them respect, and show them love, 00:22:31.019 --> 00:22:34.720 and try not to be a stumbling block for others. 00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:37.860 Very interesting in that passage, I think, 00:22:38.220 --> 00:22:41.100 that Paul says that what is a sin for you 00:22:41.100 --> 00:22:44.079 might not be a sin for me. 00:22:44.680 --> 00:22:47.440 So seeing the person who doesn't feel that she has certain forms of meat, 00:22:47.860 --> 00:22:49.279 if someone comes and says, 00:22:49.380 --> 00:22:50.360 well, there's no difference, 00:22:50.779 --> 00:22:52.140 and you can eat anything you want, 00:22:52.319 --> 00:22:53.480 and they do that, 00:22:53.940 --> 00:22:55.480 they'll be going against their conscience, 00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:57.140 and they'll be sinning. 00:22:57.940 --> 00:23:00.180 The person who thinks you can eat anything you want, 00:23:00.819 --> 00:23:03.120 if they eat lots of meat, 00:23:03.420 --> 00:23:04.860 then they're not sinning. 00:23:04.920 --> 00:23:08.180 So what is right for one isn't right for the other. 00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:09.120 And that's quite an interesting one. 00:23:09.120 --> 00:23:10.000 I'm not going to go into more detail. 00:23:10.299 --> 00:23:13.860 That's quite an interesting one to try and get our heads around. 00:23:13.859 --> 00:23:17.159 But then finally, 00:23:17.779 --> 00:23:22.619 we have things which I've called unimportant but interesting. 00:23:23.659 --> 00:23:24.979 Let me give you an example of that. 00:23:25.579 --> 00:23:28.299 John chapter 1 and verse 5 says, 00:23:28.479 --> 00:23:29.779 the light shone in the darkness, 00:23:30.539 --> 00:23:33.259 but the darkness did not overcome it. 00:23:33.839 --> 00:23:34.459 Or does it say, 00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:35.779 the light shone in the darkness, 00:23:36.259 --> 00:23:38.979 but the darkness did not understand it. 00:23:39.899 --> 00:23:42.839 Now the word that's used for overcome or understand 00:23:42.839 --> 00:23:45.259 could broadly be translated grasp. 00:23:45.939 --> 00:23:48.839 And so the difference is between grasping with the hand, 00:23:48.899 --> 00:23:50.119 as in trying to overcome, 00:23:50.679 --> 00:23:51.959 or grasping with the mind, 00:23:52.039 --> 00:23:53.519 as in understanding. 00:23:54.259 --> 00:23:56.579 You could make a case for either interpretation. 00:23:56.779 --> 00:23:58.639 It's quite an interesting discussion point. 00:23:59.259 --> 00:24:00.000 Does it matter? 00:24:00.419 --> 00:24:01.419 No, it doesn't. 00:24:01.959 --> 00:24:03.399 Both statements are true. 00:24:03.500 --> 00:24:05.139 We know that from reading other scriptures. 00:24:05.659 --> 00:24:08.139 And that is definitely not the kind of thing 00:24:08.139 --> 00:24:11.059 that we want to be falling out over in church. 00:24:11.059 --> 00:24:14.700 So things that are interesting but unimportant, 00:24:15.079 --> 00:24:18.779 we can very happily agree to disagree on. 00:24:19.539 --> 00:24:21.139 Just one caveat on that. 00:24:22.039 --> 00:24:23.899 What's unimportant to me 00:24:23.899 --> 00:24:27.359 may not be unimportant to you. 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:31.859 I think I've only ever once been in a meeting 00:24:31.859 --> 00:24:35.019 when at the end after the speaker had finished, 00:24:35.339 --> 00:24:38.220 someone felt the need to get up and to correct him. 00:24:38.220 --> 00:24:40.380 And that was when I was at university. 00:24:40.920 --> 00:24:42.500 The speaker was Dr. Robert Gordon, 00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:44.500 who was then a lecturer in Old Testament, 00:24:45.019 --> 00:24:47.299 a later very distinguished professor of Hebrew. 00:24:48.299 --> 00:24:50.319 And Robert talked about Melchizedek, 00:24:50.759 --> 00:24:52.400 and he made it clear that he believed 00:24:52.400 --> 00:24:54.120 Melchizedek was a beautiful picture 00:24:54.120 --> 00:24:55.519 of the Lord Jesus, 00:24:56.240 --> 00:24:57.039 but no more. 00:24:57.980 --> 00:24:59.259 At the end of the service, 00:24:59.819 --> 00:25:01.259 the oldest member of the church, 00:25:01.380 --> 00:25:01.920 Mr. Brown, 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:03.339 who was well into his 90s, 00:25:03.680 --> 00:25:04.759 he got up and said, 00:25:04.759 --> 00:25:07.299 some of us believe that Melchizedek 00:25:07.299 --> 00:25:09.400 was a pre-incarnation appearance 00:25:09.400 --> 00:25:10.879 of the Lord Jesus. 00:25:12.019 --> 00:25:14.039 Now, the correction was graciously given. 00:25:14.579 --> 00:25:16.000 It was graciously received, 00:25:16.079 --> 00:25:17.879 although Robert didn't change his mind. 00:25:18.440 --> 00:25:20.099 And no one fell out over it. 00:25:21.579 --> 00:25:23.079 But what to many of us 00:25:23.079 --> 00:25:24.660 would have been an interesting point, 00:25:24.779 --> 00:25:26.140 interesting thing to discuss, 00:25:26.839 --> 00:25:27.819 to dear Mr. Brown, 00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:30.259 it was something that was very precious to him 00:25:30.259 --> 00:25:31.779 and was very important 00:25:31.779 --> 00:25:35.700 that Melchizedek was actually the Lord Jesus. 00:25:36.460 --> 00:25:39.140 And again, that's a bit of a Romans 14 type situation. 00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:41.059 Someone believes something, 00:25:41.339 --> 00:25:42.960 I might think there's no consequence, 00:25:43.460 --> 00:25:44.599 but to them it is, 00:25:44.859 --> 00:25:47.059 and I need to respect their views 00:25:47.059 --> 00:25:50.140 and to show love to them 00:25:50.140 --> 00:25:52.960 as a brother or sister in the Lord Jesus. 00:25:54.279 --> 00:25:54.839 So we have, 00:25:55.140 --> 00:25:57.259 and the non-negotiables to the trivial, 00:25:57.740 --> 00:25:58.900 a wide range of things. 00:25:58.900 --> 00:26:01.640 The non-negotiables we can't agree to disagree on, 00:26:02.080 --> 00:26:03.519 the things that are unimportant, 00:26:03.960 --> 00:26:05.560 we need to agree to disagree 00:26:05.560 --> 00:26:08.740 if we don't immediately agree 00:26:08.740 --> 00:26:10.940 and we don't want to get involved 00:26:10.940 --> 00:26:13.120 in heated discussions about them. 00:26:15.420 --> 00:26:17.240 Let's finish with the how. 00:26:18.780 --> 00:26:20.820 If at times we know 00:26:20.820 --> 00:26:22.120 we're going to agree to disagree, 00:26:22.740 --> 00:26:25.019 how can we do that well? 00:26:26.320 --> 00:26:27.800 Paul's letter to the Philippians 00:26:27.799 --> 00:26:29.759 is one where he greatly emphasizes 00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:31.779 the unity and the love 00:26:31.779 --> 00:26:33.240 that we have or should have 00:26:33.240 --> 00:26:34.579 in the Lord Jesus. 00:26:35.559 --> 00:26:37.359 Chapter 2 and verse 2, he says, 00:26:37.579 --> 00:26:38.899 then make my joy complete 00:26:38.899 --> 00:26:40.539 by being like-minded, 00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:42.379 having the same love, 00:26:42.779 --> 00:26:44.659 being one in spirit 00:26:44.659 --> 00:26:46.139 and of one mind. 00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:48.460 Chapter 4 and verse 2, 00:26:48.839 --> 00:26:49.259 he says, 00:26:49.339 --> 00:26:50.279 I plead with Yodi 00:26:50.279 --> 00:26:51.480 and I plead with Syntyche 00:26:51.480 --> 00:26:54.319 to be of the same mind 00:26:54.319 --> 00:26:56.059 in the Lord. 00:26:56.660 --> 00:26:57.180 In other words, 00:26:57.259 --> 00:26:59.119 really loving pastoral concern 00:26:59.119 --> 00:27:00.359 for the church as a whole 00:27:00.359 --> 00:27:02.279 and for these sisters. 00:27:03.379 --> 00:27:05.920 Chapter 3 and verse 2 of Philippians 00:27:05.920 --> 00:27:07.059 says this, 00:27:07.740 --> 00:27:09.660 watch out for those dogs, 00:27:10.259 --> 00:27:11.500 those evildoers, 00:27:12.240 --> 00:27:14.879 those mutilators of the flesh. 00:27:14.880 --> 00:27:16.840 Do you get the huge difference 00:27:17.420 --> 00:27:18.460 in tone? 00:27:19.420 --> 00:27:20.880 The one encouraging people 00:27:20.880 --> 00:27:22.360 to think of each other, 00:27:22.460 --> 00:27:24.060 to have a real love for one another, 00:27:24.140 --> 00:27:26.240 to be united in the Lord, 00:27:26.740 --> 00:27:28.080 and the other coming across 00:27:28.080 --> 00:27:28.840 almost as vitriolic 00:27:29.520 --> 00:27:31.640 as he talks about those 00:27:31.640 --> 00:27:33.680 who particularly would insist 00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:35.120 on circumcision. 00:27:35.980 --> 00:27:37.940 And I think that's a really important 00:27:37.940 --> 00:27:39.980 distinction that Paul makes there. 00:27:40.840 --> 00:27:42.640 So how should we disagree? 00:27:42.640 --> 00:27:46.240 If the truth of the gospel 00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:47.340 is at stake, 00:27:47.420 --> 00:27:48.780 if someone is doing something 00:27:48.780 --> 00:27:50.220 which would distract others 00:27:50.220 --> 00:27:51.020 from Christ 00:27:51.020 --> 00:27:52.600 by focusing on things 00:27:52.600 --> 00:27:54.000 that are not essential 00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:54.900 to salvation, 00:27:55.500 --> 00:27:57.120 we need to defend 00:27:57.120 --> 00:27:58.640 against that robustly. 00:27:59.800 --> 00:28:01.080 Paul does it again 00:28:01.080 --> 00:28:03.120 and again in his epistles. 00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:05.540 The Lord Jesus does it 00:28:05.540 --> 00:28:07.320 again and again 00:28:07.320 --> 00:28:08.740 in the gospels. 00:28:09.259 --> 00:28:11.020 If people are being led astray 00:28:11.019 --> 00:28:12.920 and led away 00:28:12.920 --> 00:28:14.960 from true faith 00:28:14.960 --> 00:28:15.940 in God 00:28:15.940 --> 00:28:16.960 and the Lord Jesus, 00:28:17.359 --> 00:28:18.420 we need to be willing 00:28:18.420 --> 00:28:19.279 to stand up 00:28:19.279 --> 00:28:19.599 and say, 00:28:19.700 --> 00:28:20.480 this is wrong, 00:28:20.779 --> 00:28:22.160 this is what we believe, 00:28:22.400 --> 00:28:23.759 we cannot agree 00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:25.299 with that. 00:28:27.299 --> 00:28:28.940 But among brothers and sisters, 00:28:29.940 --> 00:28:30.839 where we disagree, 00:28:31.420 --> 00:28:32.579 we need to show 00:28:32.579 --> 00:28:33.680 Christian grace 00:28:33.680 --> 00:28:34.720 to one another. 00:28:34.839 --> 00:28:35.700 We need to display 00:28:35.700 --> 00:28:36.339 the unity 00:28:36.339 --> 00:28:37.660 that we have 00:28:37.660 --> 00:28:38.960 in the Lord Jesus. 00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:40.640 So that means 00:28:40.640 --> 00:28:41.420 we respect 00:28:41.420 --> 00:28:43.200 each other's views. 00:28:43.860 --> 00:28:45.000 If you have a sincerely 00:28:45.000 --> 00:28:45.720 held view 00:28:45.720 --> 00:28:46.440 that I happen 00:28:46.440 --> 00:28:47.519 to disagree with, 00:28:47.759 --> 00:28:49.180 I don't rubbish it, 00:28:49.620 --> 00:28:50.960 I don't pretend 00:28:51.600 --> 00:28:53.019 that it's got no substance 00:28:53.019 --> 00:28:54.700 and can't possibly be right, 00:28:55.039 --> 00:28:55.920 I respect 00:28:55.920 --> 00:28:56.960 what you believe. 00:28:58.460 --> 00:28:59.200 We need to seek 00:28:59.200 --> 00:28:59.880 common ground. 00:29:00.420 --> 00:29:01.200 We may agree, 00:29:01.360 --> 00:29:02.620 disagree on some things, 00:29:02.799 --> 00:29:03.720 but we agree 00:29:03.720 --> 00:29:05.160 on a whole lot of things. 00:29:05.920 --> 00:29:07.059 And the worst thing 00:29:07.059 --> 00:29:07.639 for Christians 00:29:07.639 --> 00:29:09.139 if we get so caught up 00:29:09.139 --> 00:29:09.899 in the things 00:29:09.899 --> 00:29:11.019 we disagree with, 00:29:11.259 --> 00:29:12.279 we end up shouting 00:29:12.279 --> 00:29:12.919 at each other, 00:29:12.980 --> 00:29:13.859 perhaps not literally, 00:29:14.220 --> 00:29:15.440 but shouting at each other 00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:16.240 about the things 00:29:16.240 --> 00:29:17.339 we disagree with, 00:29:17.659 --> 00:29:18.779 and we lose sight 00:29:18.779 --> 00:29:19.559 of what it is 00:29:19.559 --> 00:29:20.700 that we have together 00:29:20.700 --> 00:29:22.200 in the Lord Jesus. 00:29:23.559 --> 00:29:24.460 And in everything, 00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:26.059 we need to demonstrate 00:29:26.059 --> 00:29:26.839 humility 00:29:26.839 --> 00:29:28.159 and love 00:29:28.159 --> 00:29:29.339 for one another. 00:29:30.059 --> 00:29:31.299 Recognize that none of us 00:29:31.299 --> 00:29:32.679 has a monopoly on truth, 00:29:33.000 --> 00:29:34.039 all of us are capable 00:29:34.039 --> 00:29:35.159 of being wrong, 00:29:35.160 --> 00:29:37.019 and that the key thing 00:29:37.019 --> 00:29:38.120 is that we show 00:29:38.120 --> 00:29:39.040 the love of Christ 00:29:39.040 --> 00:29:39.759 to each other 00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:40.779 and that those 00:29:40.779 --> 00:29:41.700 looking at us 00:29:41.700 --> 00:29:43.580 can see that we are Christians 00:29:43.580 --> 00:29:44.860 by the love 00:29:44.860 --> 00:29:46.640 that we have. 00:29:47.720 --> 00:29:49.360 Two of the great preachers 00:29:49.360 --> 00:29:50.580 of the 18th century 00:29:50.580 --> 00:29:52.500 were Charles Wesley 00:29:52.500 --> 00:29:54.400 and George Whitefield. 00:29:55.600 --> 00:29:56.940 Now, Wesley and Whitefield 00:29:56.940 --> 00:29:59.840 disagreed on many things, 00:30:00.100 --> 00:30:01.019 many things, 00:30:01.019 --> 00:30:02.680 most notably 00:30:02.680 --> 00:30:05.339 on the divine sovereignty 00:30:05.339 --> 00:30:06.900 and human responsibility 00:30:06.900 --> 00:30:08.139 and the balance 00:30:08.139 --> 00:30:08.960 between the two, 00:30:09.259 --> 00:30:10.339 but lots and lots 00:30:10.339 --> 00:30:10.839 of things 00:30:10.839 --> 00:30:11.900 they disagreed on, 00:30:12.200 --> 00:30:13.200 and sometimes 00:30:13.200 --> 00:30:15.259 in quite a fiery way. 00:30:16.299 --> 00:30:17.799 But Wesley and Whitefield 00:30:17.799 --> 00:30:19.359 made a real effort 00:30:19.359 --> 00:30:20.200 as brothers 00:30:20.200 --> 00:30:21.099 in the Lord Jesus 00:30:21.099 --> 00:30:22.220 to get along 00:30:22.220 --> 00:30:23.000 with each other 00:30:23.000 --> 00:30:24.759 and to contend together 00:30:24.759 --> 00:30:25.980 for the gospel. 00:30:26.700 --> 00:30:27.619 To the extent 00:30:27.619 --> 00:30:28.359 that by the end 00:30:28.359 --> 00:30:29.059 of their lives, 00:30:29.099 --> 00:30:30.019 when George Whitefield died, 00:30:30.019 --> 00:30:32.279 he asked that John Wesley 00:30:32.279 --> 00:30:33.700 should speak at his funeral. 00:30:34.960 --> 00:30:35.839 And Wesley said this 00:30:35.839 --> 00:30:37.079 as part of his sermon. 00:30:38.160 --> 00:30:39.579 Let us keep close 00:30:39.579 --> 00:30:41.480 to the grand scriptural doctrines 00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:41.940 which he, 00:30:42.039 --> 00:30:42.920 that is which we are 00:30:42.920 --> 00:30:44.160 everywhere delivered. 00:30:45.039 --> 00:30:46.500 There are many doctrines 00:30:46.500 --> 00:30:48.039 of a less essential nature, 00:30:48.720 --> 00:30:49.900 with regard to which 00:30:49.900 --> 00:30:51.940 even the sincere children of God 00:30:51.940 --> 00:30:53.500 are and have been divided 00:30:53.500 --> 00:30:54.619 for many ages. 00:30:55.639 --> 00:30:56.720 In these we may think 00:30:56.720 --> 00:30:57.480 and let think. 00:30:58.079 --> 00:30:59.319 We may agree to disagree. 00:31:00.019 --> 00:31:01.379 But meantime, 00:31:01.519 --> 00:31:02.460 let us hold fast 00:31:02.460 --> 00:31:03.259 to the essentials 00:31:03.259 --> 00:31:04.059 of the faith 00:31:04.059 --> 00:31:05.440 which was once 00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:06.619 delivered to the saints, 00:31:07.279 --> 00:31:08.299 which this champion 00:31:08.299 --> 00:31:08.799 of God 00:31:08.799 --> 00:31:10.339 so strongly insisted on 00:31:10.339 --> 00:31:11.920 at all times 00:31:11.920 --> 00:31:14.299 and in all places. 00:31:15.000 --> 00:31:15.740 John Wesley's brother, 00:31:15.859 --> 00:31:16.039 of course, 00:31:16.099 --> 00:31:16.859 was Charles Wesley. 00:31:17.440 --> 00:31:18.379 And Charles Wesley 00:31:18.379 --> 00:31:19.960 puts us the same sentiment 00:31:19.960 --> 00:31:20.400 in the hymn. 00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:21.579 I'll finish with this. 00:31:21.599 --> 00:31:22.599 This is what Charles Wesley 00:31:22.599 --> 00:31:22.980 wrote. 00:31:22.980 --> 00:31:47.980 Let's pray together. 00:31:47.980 --> 00:31:50.640 Father, we thank you 00:31:50.640 --> 00:31:51.539 for your word to us 00:31:51.539 --> 00:31:52.039 this evening. 00:31:52.180 --> 00:31:53.039 We thank you for 00:31:53.039 --> 00:31:54.700 the fact that 00:31:54.700 --> 00:31:55.940 although we may disagree 00:31:55.940 --> 00:31:57.259 on many things 00:31:57.259 --> 00:31:59.559 of a secondary nature, 00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:01.240 that we have a unity 00:32:01.240 --> 00:32:02.700 in the Lord Jesus 00:32:02.700 --> 00:32:04.360 and that as brothers 00:32:04.360 --> 00:32:06.380 and sisters in him, 00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:08.860 we can disagree with grace 00:32:08.860 --> 00:32:10.299 and with love 00:32:10.299 --> 00:32:11.819 and with humility. 00:32:11.819 --> 00:32:13.720 We thank you too 00:32:13.720 --> 00:32:15.299 that the key truths 00:32:15.299 --> 00:32:16.000 of the gospel 00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:17.599 are crystal clear 00:32:17.599 --> 00:32:18.919 in your word. 00:32:19.539 --> 00:32:20.659 That there is no doubt 00:32:20.659 --> 00:32:22.960 about how we receive 00:32:22.960 --> 00:32:23.740 your grace, 00:32:24.339 --> 00:32:26.599 about how we have salvation 00:32:26.599 --> 00:32:28.139 through the Lord Jesus. 00:32:29.200 --> 00:32:29.919 And there's no doubt 00:32:29.919 --> 00:32:30.639 either as we read 00:32:30.639 --> 00:32:31.200 the scriptures 00:32:31.200 --> 00:32:33.139 about your grace 00:32:33.139 --> 00:32:34.259 as the God of creation, 00:32:34.419 --> 00:32:35.079 about the work 00:32:35.079 --> 00:32:35.939 of the Lord Jesus, 00:32:36.539 --> 00:32:38.279 about the Holy Spirit 00:32:38.279 --> 00:32:39.759 and how he works 00:32:39.759 --> 00:32:40.740 in our lives. 00:32:40.819 --> 00:32:41.299 We thank you 00:32:41.299 --> 00:32:42.440 that we can unite 00:32:42.440 --> 00:32:43.220 on these things. 00:32:43.299 --> 00:32:43.740 And we pray that you 00:32:43.740 --> 00:32:44.399 will help us 00:32:44.399 --> 00:32:45.480 to contend 00:32:45.480 --> 00:32:46.399 for the gospel 00:32:46.399 --> 00:32:47.259 where we need to, 00:32:47.359 --> 00:32:48.420 where there is error, 00:32:48.579 --> 00:32:49.879 where there is untruth. 00:32:50.200 --> 00:32:51.059 Help us to be willing 00:32:51.059 --> 00:32:52.019 to take a stand 00:32:52.019 --> 00:32:53.119 against it. 00:32:53.639 --> 00:32:54.639 Always doing it 00:32:54.639 --> 00:32:55.279 with love 00:32:55.279 --> 00:32:56.879 but with a determination 00:32:56.879 --> 00:32:58.379 that the gospel 00:32:58.379 --> 00:32:59.099 of Christ 00:32:59.099 --> 00:33:01.019 may not be diluted. 00:33:01.799 --> 00:33:02.379 But help us, 00:33:02.500 --> 00:33:03.579 particularly in our church, 00:33:03.980 --> 00:33:04.599 to be marked 00:33:04.599 --> 00:33:05.299 by unity 00:33:05.299 --> 00:33:06.899 and by love 00:33:06.900 --> 00:33:08.440 and by consideration 00:33:08.440 --> 00:33:09.860 of one another. 00:33:10.560 --> 00:33:10.920 We pray now 00:33:10.920 --> 00:33:11.640 you'll be with us 00:33:11.640 --> 00:33:12.560 as we continue 00:33:12.560 --> 00:33:13.680 and as we go 00:33:13.680 --> 00:33:14.800 into our time of questions. 00:33:15.180 --> 00:33:16.380 We ask in Jesus' name. 00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:17.259 Amen.