Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | John 17:21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 17:21 that they all may be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe [without any doubt] that You sent Me. |
Bible Question: Is it any wonder that the world doesn't believe--with all the divisions between those calling themselves followers of Christ? |
Bible Answer: seeking; To me personally it is a sad day when discerning correct teaching from unsound teaching is considered to be devisive and unloving. Today's cry is for "ecumenicalism" which is defined as: "the organized attempt to bring about the cooperation and unity of all believers in Christ. For years, Evangelicals distanced themselves from institutional ecumenism because of the unsound theology of the programs involved and of the groups involved. Today however the spirit of compromise has invaded Evangelicalism. What were now witnessing is a growing emphasis on inclusion and tolerance. Sound doctrine and correction are despised as "divisive" and "unloving." Ignoring the Scriptures, numerous evangelical leaders today claim that concern for doctrine causes division and therefore should be avoided for the sake of love and unity among the brethren.. The Scriptures however, couldn't be more specific in it's opposition to such a teaching. Rom. 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. It is the duty on the part of every Christian to work towards unity among true believers, while at the same time never compromising truth. Many leaders and lay leaders are being taught that doctrine is not crucial, and that to fight for the truth is unspiritual, some are even being encouraged to accept apostate denominations as genuine expressions of Christianity. Whenever I ask myself: how can Bible-believing Christian's accept many of the teachings held up today? This is the answer I come up with. Few read the Bible any more. Far too many people simply go along with whatever they are told is bibical, with no particular interest in checking it out for themselves. How many times have you heard that somebody was "causing division in the church?" Well maybe they were supposed to. After all, there are two things that cause division according to the Bible: truth and error. In Scripture Jesus said: "Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:" Luke 12:51 I have to keep reminding myself to the fact that the truth offends those who don't want to hear it. As far as unity is concerned: True unity is not sought by pretending that there are no differences, as modern ecumenists have done, but recognizing and respecting those differences, while focusing on the great orthodox truth all Christian's share. Among the essentials we can and should be able to share are: The virgin birth, the deity of Christ, the atonement, the resurrection, the authority of Scripture, and the second coming. I have to state again that it is my personal opinion that sound doctrine produces right living and unsound doctrine or teaching produces loose living. Just a couple of additional thoughts to add to this post. Many otherwise sound churches no longer preach the whole council of God so as not to offend the unchurched How can the church fulfill it’s place as the "pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Tim. 3:15) if it persistently compromises with falsehood and refuses to challenge error in it’s midst? Whatever is almost true, is false in this day in age it's getting tougher to distinguish the saved from the lost, because those who profess to be saved look and act more and more like the world through compromising with the world. I'd rather be divided by truth than united by error Finally; Truth without love is legalism, and love without the truth is humanism Grace and peace zach† |