The Unity of Silence

”Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

Peacemakers are in great demand and short supply in this world – and no wonder! Few of us feel qualified to address the United Nations or tag along with Condaleeza Rice to the Middle East or stand between warring tribes in Kenya.

They’re in great demand and short supply in the church, too. But again, how many of us are qualified to reconcile Wesleyan Arminianism with Calvinism or bring people together on worship styles? In theological (and cultural) disagreements, who of us understands where everybody’s coming from or what God’s viewpoint is or how the various aspects of truth can be reconciled?

But there’s good news. When Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers,” He wasn’t just talking about those seated at round-table discussions or laboring over theological treatises or bringing quarreling hardliners to a compromise. He was talking about something I can do – and you can, too. It’s amazingly simple (although not necessarily easy). The apostle Paul tells us how.

Paul became an expert at peacemaking – he had to deal with the haggling and factions among his churches. He was non-negotiable on the basics – salvation through Christ alone, the authority of the Scriptures, bottom-line things we just covered in a sermon series here at FAC. But for those championing side issues, things not essential for salvation and discipleship, Paul had some easy-to-follow advice that any of us can follow:

“Whatever you believe about these things, keep between yourself and God” (Rom. 14:22 NIV).

Well, that can put a blight on an argument! And Paul meant it. He kept pounding his point home in Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8:

“If God has accepted that person, don’t reject him because of disputable matters.”
“Do not destroy the work of God by haggling the nonessentials.”
“Accept the believer, without passing judgment on the side issues.”
“Even if you know what’s right, be careful. Knowledge puffs up (see how self-righteous you feel), but love builds up. Don’t let your knowledge destroy another. Do the loving thing, even if it means inconvenience to you.”

Why? Because God is the only qualified Judge. “Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand” (Romans 14:4 NIV).

Something to think about when we take a deep breath to defend our favorite doctrinal position. Or worship preferences. Or one of a thousand other second causes. It’s a perfect time to keep the command of Scriptures and to keep the unity of the Spirit, by keeping what we believe between ourselves and God.