Exposition by Max A Forsythe
Christ Covenant Reformed (PCA)
As a part of the Reformed family I have a somewhat unique background. I am old enough to remember the United Presbyterian Church in North America. Now that denomination wasn't too awfully reformed, but it was evangelical and we did know our catechism and tulip! My father represented our Presbytery at the last general assembly of the UPNA and voted against the merger which passed nevertheless. With the passing of that 100 year old institution, something important was lost and that significant item was the spirit and admonition of the denominational motto: "In essentials unity, in nonessentials, forbearance in love." Now there is a lesson that needs to be relearned in our day and time within the extended Reformed community!
This fall, The National Observer, a magazine that follows the Reformed churches and activities in English speaking countries, put our a rather large book defining and explaining the newest reformed bodies. I was very surprised to find more than half a dozen new and very small REFORMED bodies, some with less than a dozen churches. They have all been formed since the PCA came out of the southern Presbyterian Church in 1973! I would suppose they bring the number of reformed bodies up to nearly a dozen. Then when you add in the assorted and varied independent reformed churches, the diversity is very wide indeed. It is so wide that as people move across the country it is a real challenge for new residents to find a church that they are willing to call home. Now, one of the ways we got to this sad state of affairs is the failure of almost everyone to heed the call of Francis Schaeffer to maintain loving relationships with orthodox brethren wherever we might find them.
Since we have failed to do so and since discussion has largely been cut off, tragically so many people have wandered off on their ownsome. Then they have gone on to build a church to their particular liking without working out an understanding with other orthodox believers. Yes, I know that there is a lot of fundamental theology that we can never ever compromise on, but there are quite a few doctrines where loving tolerance would be very much in order. Now I am not one of the liberals that would suggest unity for the sake of unity. But I do believe that very many secondary issues could be tolerated if people were willing to do so. We all know that even within our own small community of believers there are different views and preferences for doctrines, traditions and fellowship. And I for one am very proud of what the Spirit has accomplished in our midst. The only concern I have is that everyone has to keep in touch with the others to avoid becoming so isolated in their views that they begin to grow intolerant. "In essentials unity, in nonessentials forbearance in love"!
With that introduction, you pretty much know where I am headed with the text before us today. This text is very much related to last week's text where different attitudes and lifestyles could very easily undermine the unity of the Roman church. Our text today is divided into two portions. In verses one to six, the example of Christ is held up before us. In verses seven to thirteen, the vision of unity in Christ's Church is laid before us. So let us consider Paul's admonitions here carefully.
Paul begins in verse one to develop the theme from chapter fourteen further. "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves." Charles Hodge comments here that "Since the points of difference are not essential, as the law of love, the example of Christ, and the honor of religion require concession, we who are fully persuaded of the unimportance of these things about which our weaker brothers are so scrupulous ought to act in accordance with their opinions and not behave just to please ourselves."
The second verse turns the admonition in verse one around to encourage us to regulate our conduct by helping our brothers to improve their religion, and in doing so we ought not to be surprised if our own is improved as a result. I know that this is difficult indeed, but I remember an experience ten or fifteen years ago when I was beginning to take the Reformed distinctives more seriously. A good Christian brother was stressing the Divine providence in all activities both great and small. I well understood the big issues, but refused to allow for the trivial issues being important enough for God's considerations. My friend Dan was patient, he was content to see one small step into the light of truth. He waited and prayed for further steps which came much more quickly as I came under the guidance of Rev Harold Kuhn in the early 80's. He it was who best demonstrated the loving spirit and firm foundations of the old United Presbyterian Church in North America. "In essentials unity, in non-essentials forbearance in love." Once I came under his guidance, lots of errors that I never realized came to light and my preparation for ministry blossomed just in time for the coming together of of the first families of Christ Covenant.
I hope that you can see the working out of these verses here in the life of this congregation. Every soul who has straggled in, has come from a different point of the spiritual compass with a different set of luggage that has had to be unpacked, sorted and stored. Some ideas that we come into the faith with must ultimately go to back of our mental closet where perhaps in time they can even be forgotten. As we go through this process, Paul shows us the essential focus on Jesus Christ in verse three and the providential insights that come to us from His teachings in the Word of God.
Have you ever had particular verse just cause you to go limp, to weep, to cry out or give you goose pimples when you realized that the God of heaven knew before time how you would react to His word when the Spirit helped you to see the light? In the reading and study of the word, and not in our vain interpretations is there endurance and encouragement so that we may have the blessed hope of Christ and life eternal with Him and the Father.
Then in verse five we see the purpose of focusing on our Lord Jesus Christ. It is so that in Him we may find the unity that so tragically separates us. I firmly believe that wherever there are disparate views and visions of the church, if the parties involved will embark on a serious study of the work and person of Christ, in time their divergent views will soften so that a unity of purpose may be formed and practiced. When the true Church speaks, it must speak with one heart and voice so that our Father in heaven may be glorified. And in order for that oneness to be achieved, we must learn to accept one another in the Lord.
In the last part of our portion today, we see Paul addressing the great division within the first century congregations: Jew and Gentile. Thank goodness, we do not have divisions between true believers so great in our day. Now much has been made in the last year of discussions between catholics and evangelicals. I personally have no problems with that, however we have to be very careful that any unities that may be forged are based on the fundamental teachings of Christ, Paul and all the rest. Please notice that I said catholics and evangelicals and not the Church of Rome and the Protestant denominations! We can learn to respect individual christians and ministers within and without the Reformed faith wherever they advocate sound biblical teachings in those areas where agreement is absolutely necessary. However, just as a significant portion of the Old Covenant community rejected the essentials of pure doctrine, so it is with many many leaders and followers in our century.
Today, there is only a small remnant that sincerely trust in the Father, Son and Spirit revealed to us. It is He of course who fills us with joy and peace by the power of the Spirit even as we trust in Him. May His peace in the Church be ours as we enjoy the increasing joy of unity that may be ours as we learn to demonstrate the blessed hope given to us.
Resources Used: The Holy Bible, New International Version
Places Preached:Hodge, Charles. Romans. Mackenzie, R. Calvin's New Testament Commentaries: Romans. Murray, John. New International Commentary: Epistle to Romans.
Christ Covenant REFORMED (Presbyterian Church in America) Post Office Box 13926 - Columbus, OH 43213-7926
Rom15a.htm 25 February 96
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