This post from Defending Contending follows on from the quote from J. Gresham Machen posted byJohn
“Doctrine divides!”
Whenever you hear this it’s usually followed up with “we all worship the same God” and “can’t we all get along?”
Whenever the mantra “doctrine divides” is employed, it’s always with a negative connotation. But have you stopped to ponder why?
Allow me to submit for your consideration, that “doctrine divides” is actually a good thing–a positive thing. It’s true that “doctrine divides,” and here’s what it divides:
The ones just wanting to be fed from the ones willing to take up their cross.
The false conversions from the true conversions.
The ones under law from the ones under grace.
The swine from the pearls.
The profane from the holy.
The tares from the wheat.
The goats from the sheep.
The wolves from the flock.
The hirelings from the shepherds.
The “other gospels” from the one true Gospel.
The false christs from the one true Christ.
The darkness from the Light.
The lies from the Truth.
The myths from the facts.
The wicked from the righteous.
The wide gate from the narrow gate.
The broad road from the narrow road.
and
The many paths from the only Way.
Source
Originally posted 2009-03-17 08:43:22. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.
35 For I have come to ‘SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW’;
36 and ‘A MAN’S ENEMIES WILL BE THOSE OF HIS OWN HOUSEHOLD.’ Matthew 10:32-36
John
This is inevitable, when you truly seek after the Lord. Truly seek out what is His side, His thoughts in any given situation, and are prepared to carry them out in whatever way we are called to do this. It does divide homes and relationships and sometimes viciously so. You are called all sorts of things and accused of all sorts of things. It takes a firm grip of the Lord on your life to withstand such onslaughts, it takes a ‘face set as flint’ to hold onto Him, with all your might regardless of what is going on around you. It takes His mighty grace to keep your heart and thoughts pure and constantly on Him, and not to be dragged into the mud-slinging that goes with this so often.
What a great reminder that God desires His people to “come out and be separate”. Love is a priority, but not at the expense of truth.