1 Corinthians 11:19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval.

This is a very interesting statement, particularly in view of the strong things Paul said earlier in this same letter about factions in the Church. However, there is also a lot of logic behind this, so there is a tension between the two truths. As Paul said to the Romans, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:18) At the same time, we aren’t to compromise God’s truth on essential things. As Paul again wrote to the Romans, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2) The NIV translates this verse as, “which of you have God’s approval,” but the Japanese says, “who is a true believer.” We tend to use “true believer” in casual, secular ways, but this is deadly serious. The fact of the matter is, there are assorted heresies in every Christian grouping, and as C. S. Lewis famously said, when we get to heaven we can be sure that we will find out that we were all wrong somewhere. We are to hold to our faith strongly and sincerely, but with humility and love. Paul dealt with that repeatedly in regard to dietary matters. There are things, like throwing Biblical standards of sexuality and marriage out the window, that automatically create divisions, and we need to be very careful of those. That’s the sort of thing Paul is talking about here.

This is something I have thought much and felt strongly about for a long time. As I have written before, there are various Christian traditions I could not join, but I still have brothers and sisters in Christ who are in those traditions. I will let God be the judge of who is a “true believer,” but I need to focus on the essentials of faith and not the peripherals. As I quoted Ben Wong just recently, “The important thing is to keep the important thing the important thing.” I am not to deny for a moment that Jesus is the divine Son of God, the only Savior who died to take the penalty for our sin and rose again to demonstrate His victory over sin, death, and the devil, but I am not to reject a brother or sister who holds to that truth while differing with me on other points. Pride is the big danger here, because I can certainly be proud that I am “right.” God is the judge of that! (1 Corinthians 4:3)

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me be an instrument of Your grace and love to all, while holding fast to Your truth, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!