Apologeet.nl
Reformed, Evangelical or PentecostalSelf-righteous or Humble?
If you have been following me for a while then you will know by now that I do not like to be associated with one specific denomination only. Actually, for most missionaries, church denomination is not such a big thing. Wherever possible, we like to work together.
I know two Dutch families who I have had the opportunity to help with their introduction here on Madagascar. They are now working on a wonderful project in the southeast of Madagascar. Hopefully, I will visit them in May this year. Firstly, I hope we can encourage each other in the Lord. I am also incredibly curious about their work. But, not unimportantly, I am going to see and test whether the translation work we are doing is understood by the locals in their area as well.
Why do I mention this? Well, I think I am generally a bit more Evangelical in my views than they are. In fact, these two families come from the Restored Reformed tradition. In expression, tradition and some views, we differ. Yet, we are fully aware that we serve the same Lord. We want nothing more than for people to come to a living faith in Jesus! These two families are very dear to us, and yes, whatever happens, I want to be there for them. They are my dear brothers and sisters, I love them!
A somewhat long introduction for a subject close to my heart. I would like to take a look with you at our behaviour regarding brothers and sisters from other church denominations.
Self-righteous or Humble
Last year, we were in the Netherlands. I gave several sermons in very different congregations. I took the subtitle of this video from a sermon I had the privilege of delivering in February 2024. In that sermon I talked about the attitude of the eldest son in the parable of the prodigal son from Luke 15:11-32. Here we see the youngest son going completely wild. Many of us know the story. The story in which we may learn that the Father heart of God is open to every sinner.
But do we know the story of this eldest son? If we interpret it theologically, we can say, for example, that the youngest son represents the lost people, and the eldest son represents Israel. That in itself is a fine interpretation of this story as told by the Lord Jesus. But what can we learn from the behaviour? The behaviour of this eldest son seems to be one of bitterness, jealousy, and contempt:
Luke 15:29-30
And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: but as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
The eldest son just can't get over it! The father receives the youngest son and rejoices in his return. How could his father do that? Surely it was obvious that this youngest son was not nearly as devoted as he was? We hear these thoughts clearly in his words:
Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment
And then he does not speak of his own brother, but what does he say?
but as soon as this thy son was come
He no longer looks fondly at his brother who has just returned, he talks about that son of his father's. That son who has not done nearly as well as he has.
The call to walk humbly with the Lord is not understood by this eldest son.
Micah 6:8
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
The question then arises as to how we look at each other. How do we look at brothers and sisters? Do we see brothers and sisters, or do we see people from a different flock, and different denomination? Do we see people who are doing less 'well' than us?
Insider or outsider?
For many years, we as a family have had the privilege of getting to know brothers and sisters from very different denominations, different churches, or groups. The brethren, Dutch Reformed, Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, Evangelical and so on.
With these groups also come a multitude of ideas and teachings. And I will admit it, sometimes we really do disagree. What to think of the more progressive Christians who, for example, do not find it a problem to have a woman as pastor? Then the serious Christians in the conservative churches? Aren't they far too legalistic? Not to mention those Pentecostals … Way too much emotion!
And then also the different theological views: Calvinist, Lutheran, Arminian. And don't get me wrong! I am not saying we should be indifferent about theology. Theology is important!
Don't be mistaken in thinking that your personal view was, by definition, the view of the first apostles. You will be surprised how many of our teachings took shape in later centuries.
- Then I am talking about wearing a neat suit for the men, a hat for the women.
- Or will the Lord Jesus return before the great tribulation or just after?
- Is a saved sinner capable of losing his salvation or not?
- Has the Lord God predestined who will be lost and who will be saved?
- Can small children be baptised or not?
- Does the Holy Spirit still work miracles, or did He only work miracles in the beginning of the Church?
Some of these things make collaboration a challenge. But none of these make the other person an outsider.
The harsh reality is that all of us, no one excepted, need salvation.
Psalm 14:2-3
The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there were any that did understand, And seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: There is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Again, theology matters! But do differing ideas about worship, about dress, about baptism, or about the Second Coming of Christ make someone a lesser brother or sister? Shouldn't our primary focus be what we are saved from? What did the father say to the eldest son?
Luke 15:32
It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Pentecostals, Black Stockings, Anabaptists, and other Stubborn Folk
Luke 19:10
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
If we looked at others with this outlook instead of taking their measure, how different the Church would look! We don't have to agree on all things. The challenge and task lies in loving one another. Acknowledging, and recognising our brothers and sisters in Christ.
When the Lord Jesus saves, we cannot help but rejoice at every soul that is added. The Lord Jesus truly makes us one!
1 Corinthians 12:13
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Throughout the New Testament, we constantly see that we are called to be united. In Philippians, Paul calls on two ladies, living at odds with each other, to make amends.
Philippians 4:2-3
I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.
And this is nothing new. Jesus himself gave us the commandment to love one another.
John 13:34-35
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
So, there we have it. Whether you're dealing with dancing Pentecostals, those dressed in black clothes, Anabaptists, and all the other stubborn hoi polloi, we are all tasked with loving one another.
Practice
As I said, on the mission field, differences seem to fall away much faster. We simply need each other here. We also don't want to duplicate certain work. It would be a bit nonsense to want to establish a church in a place where another brother is already working on that. Or what about the translation work I am usually involved in. Wouldn't it be foolish of another if he doesn't first check if there is already material available in the dialect he is working with?
Even in the Netherlands or your home-country, we can work together just fine. Unfortunately, all too often I see people working without even noticing each other. Or even worse, that we attack each other in certain situations. I remember well that in 2020 churches were closing en masse. Until that one mega church in Dutch Staphorst opened its doors. They had enough space to seat everyone at 1.5 metres. It was widely reported in the media! And when the opinions of other believers were asked, they had their say. Our brothers and sisters in Staphorst were stupid, they didn't understand what charity meant, they were stubborn, they were arrogant, and thanks to these people from Staphorst, the Dutch Christians were put in a bad light.
None of the Christians who spoke badly about the Christians in Staphorst seemed aware that they were achieving the opposite. What did Jesus say again?
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
You can disagree on certain issues within the various churches, but as long as these issues do not concern primary doctrines, you should just bite your tongue. Were there people who became lost forever when they opened the Churchdoor in Staphorst? No! Did they preach that Jesus had not actually risen? No! In other words, no harm was done to our confession of faith.
This week, we had an American family visit us. After dinner, I had a good conversation with my brother, Mark. He told me that as a Baptist, he didn't have much problems working with the local churches. Yet these are the kind of churches where they baptise babies. Mark did not see it as a stumbling block. After all, we are not saved by baptism but by the grace of God. But, he also told me that he had recently come across someone who also wanted to work together. This man called himself a Christian, but it soon became clear that he denied the divinity of Jesus. See, this was a problem. Mark did not want to work together with this person, and rightly so!
Now, if you find it difficult to distinguish between what is fundamental and what is not, I recommend you read or listen to my series on the essentials of the Christian faith.
Motives and Differences
Fortunately, we have many Dutch video channels on the internet that clearly preach the word of God. Let me mention a few, just to let you enjoy the Dutch pronunciation.
Christelijke Apologeet; Geloof en Rede; Logos Instituut; Geloofstoerusting; Kenneth Johannes; Volg de waarheid Apologetiek.
In almost all these channels, I'm sure I can find ideas that I don't agree with or only partly agree with. For example, I have found out that not everyone believes in a young earth, others put a lot of emphasis on the rapture before the great tribulation, and still others put too much emphasis on the idea of predestination as far as I am concerned.
Still, I am incredibly happy that some of these channels have far more subscribers than I have! And for the others who don’t, I sincerely hope that they may also become very big. Why? The Gospel needs to resonate! None of these channels proclaim a Jesus other than the Jesus from the Bible. No, the emphasis is sometimes a little different from what I mainly focus on, but that should not spoil the fun. Let the Gospel ring loud and wide.
Looking at Paul, we see a similar attitude. Paul even goes a step further. He was in prison and heard that there were preachers who preached because they wanted to become more popular than he was. Others were preaching because they wanted to make Paul jealous. And what does Paul write?
Philippians 1:15-18
Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: the one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: but the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
In Conclusion
Again, we really don't always have to agree when it comes to side issues. We may agree to disagree. Different ideas about worship, about clothing, about baptism, about the Second Coming, about how the Spirit works, and even when it comes to the doctrine of predestination do not make someone a lesser brother or sister.
We are allowed to discuss this internally. Yes, we may even say that we would rather meet in a congregation that better suits our own ideas. What does not suit us, however, is not to love one another! When the Gospel is preached it will not always go the way you and I want it to. Sometimes it is a challenge not to dislike each other. Some discussions are very complicated, but the call to repentance is and remains our mission. This command is valid regardless of whether someone believes in predestination or not, whether someone believes in a young or old earth and whether someone believes in the pre-trib rapture or not.
People sometimes say you can choose friends, but family is just what you get. We have to put up with each other, whether we like it or not. The Lord Jesus did not say, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye totally agree with one to another.” No! The Lord Jesus said, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
The beauty is that we have an absolute common connection in God's Spirit. The unity Christ prayed for is not an organisational unity or denominational unity, but a spiritual unity based on faith in Christ and the glory of God within.
1 Corinthians 12:12-13
For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Christians should be united in passion, plan and purpose, just as the Father the Son, and the Holy Spirit are united in the same. The confession of the Christian church throughout the ages has always been and remains the same. Jesus is the Son of God, He is God Himself, He died for our sins and if you don't believe that, you will die in your sins. Jesus rose from the dead, and if you believe in His resurrection you will be justified by your faith in Him. This confession is the absolute core of the Christian faith. This is the message which must resonate, and not our own ideas. In this message, we have enough in common to march together and show the world our love for each other.
Amen
