On Sound Doctrine

What is it about the Church today that we cannot agree on sound, Biblical doctrine? Why must we be ignorant to truth, and when we are not ignorant, we are squabbling over non-essential doctrines such as election or end times? Why can't we fulfill the law of Christ and love one another unconditionally, without divison? Brothers and sisters, let us never sway from sound teaching on the crucifixion and resurrection! but let us also lay down our contempt for one another when it comes to matters of personal conviction. Why must the church be divided like it is? Baptists and Free-willer's, Orthodox and Emergants, Catholic and Protestant. Let us know nothing amongst one another but Christ and Him crucified, and put to rest the arguments of ambiguity. Surely, we must be educated on these other issues and always seek out truth, but in the words of Jon Courson, "knowledge is like underwear, always worn but never shown." I do not suggest, even for a moment that we give up reasoning with one another - in fact, that is another lack I see within the church. I do suggest, though that we have love for one another, in spite of non-essential doctrinal issues. It breaks my heart that a Calvinist would accept me with open arms if I were to declare that I were a fellow Calvinist, while others would reject me. Or that a Calvinist would look down on me, that I am uneducated or not intellectual to not agree wholeheartedly with Calvin's stance on pre-destination and election. It breaks my heart that a pastor cannot share his personal views with his congregation, because he may be a stumbling block to an uneducated and unloving person. Whether he be led astray by his inability to reason through what the pastor said or brought into anger and backbitting because of his lack of unconditional love for all men.

Christians, let us not forsake the instruction and discussion of sound doctrine, and let us not forsake the acceptance of all believers in the pure essential Gospel as Brothers!