People will not even put up with sound doctrine! They will not tolerate it! Do we understand that this is where we are heading? The notion of unity for the sake of unity is a myth. It is fool's gold. What did Jesus Himself say? Who are my mother and brother except those that do the will of my Father!
"Almost since the beginning of Christianity, believers have quarreled about Christian doctrine and church government. The first Jerusalem Council served as an example of a favorably resolved dispute (Acts 15). However, other disputes resulted in division and treatment of opponents as non-Christians. For example, some Protestants who believe in salvation only through faith will recite many doctrinal differences with Catholics, claiming those make them un-Christian although Catholics share their belief in salvation only through faith. The critics have forgotten the words of the apostle Paul, "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you" (Rom. 15:7a, NIV)." -- Ron Allen
It is certainly true that people have argued over doctrine throughout the history of Christianity. The Biblical examples he gives are not being represented correctly however. The Jerusalem Council was dealing with heresy. There was a group of former Jews who were insisting that the new gentile believers also had to be circumcised in order to be saved. This is not an example of a favorably resolved dispute -- it is an example of a correction. This is the same error that the Judaizers were committing in Galatia. Paul rebuked the Galatians for it saying if you insisted on one part of the law then you sever Christ from yourself and make Him useless to you! That hardly sounds like a Kumbaya unity moment beloved. That is how Allen is selling it though. He then breezes past a fundamental error within the Catholic faith. They believe that salvation is based upon a mixture of works and grace. Catholics do not share the Protestant belief of faith alone. Considering falsely believing could lead someone to believe they are saved when they are not, I would think that is a pretty big deal. As for Romans 15, Allen leaves out the context:
May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. -- Romans 15: 5-7 (ESV)
