"Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." -- I Corinthians 10:12
Heard a story told by a Grace Believer who met another Grace Believer in the middle of the Golden Gate Bridge:
"I was standing in the middle of the Golden Gate Bridge admiring the view when another tourist walked up alongside of me to do the same. I heard him say quietly, as he took in the beauty of the view, 'What an awesome God.'
"I turned to him and said, 'You a Christian?'
"He said, 'Yes, I am a Christian.'
"I said, 'So am I,' and we shook hands. I said, 'Are you a liberal or a fundamental Christian?'
"He said, 'I am a fundamental Christian.'
"I said, 'So am I,' and we smiled and nodded to each other." I said, 'Are you a Covenant or dispensational, fundamental Christian?'
"He said, 'I am a dispensational, fundamental Christian.'
"I said, 'So am I,' and we slapped one another on the back." I said, 'Are you an early Acts, mid-Acts or late Acts, dispensational, fundamental Christian?'
"He said 'I am a mid-Acts, dispensational, fundamental Christian.'
"I said, 'So am I' and we agreed to exchange Christmas cards each year. I said, 'Are you an Acts 9 or 13, mid-Acts, dispensational, fundamental Christian?'
"He said, 'I am an Acts 9, mid-Acts, dispensational, fundamental Christian.'
"I said, 'So am I' and we hugged one another right there on the bridge. I said, 'Are you a pre-trib, or post-trib, Acts 9, mid-Acts, dispensational, fundamental Christian?'
"He said, 'I am a pre-trib, Acts 9, mid-Acts, dispensational, fundamental Christian.'
"I said, 'So am I,' and we decided to exchange kids for the summer."I said, 'Are you a 12 in or 12 out, pre-trib, Acts 9, mid-Acts, dispensational, fundamental Christian?'
"He said, 'I am a 12 in, pre-trib, Acts 9, mid-Acts, dispensational, fundamental Christian.'"I said, 'You heretic, and I pushed him off the bridge!'" -- Author Unknown
The above is sad but all too true, with the exception of being pushed off a bridge, although some may have even considered that! Of course, the shoe could have been on the other foot; that is, the weary traveler might have held the 12 out position -- heaven forbid! The point is, no matter how deeply our convictions may run on secondary issues, they should never disrupt our fellowship together. Issues such as: Are the 12 in or out of the Body of Christ? Was Paul the author of Hebrews? Should we observe holidays? Was Paul in or out of the will of God in Acts 21? Where did the Church begin -- Acts 9, 11, or 13? And on and on we could go.
Our Fellowship in Christ must rest solely on the Fundamentals of the Faith and the Doctrines of Grace found in Ephesians 4:4-6. There is no room for further discussion on these matters. On other areas of the Word of God where we may find ourselves in disagreement, let us "agree to disagree" in a Christ-like manner. This will help maintain the unity of the Spirit among us and glorify God in the process.
Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. ( o.has.timothy1@gmail.com )