TALKING PAST ONE ANOTHER ONE ANOTHER ON GRACE, FAITH AND WORKS One of the greatest hindrances to achieving any sense of unity following discussions involving doctrinal disagreement arises when we ASSUME the worst of one another. We merely compound the problem when we continue to INSINUATE they believe something, ASCRIBING it to them, even when they rightly deny what we accuse them of affirming. The ensuing discussion then disintegrates into a major back and forth of nothing more than talking right past one another, resolving nothing. In the many discussions I have had and witnessed over disagreements concerning the topics of grace, faith and works (and their relationship to one another in justification and salvation), I have seen this talking past one another play out time and time again. Mind you, it was another brother, in just such a discussion, who brought forth this idea of talking past one another to my attention. It struck me as so profound, that I have become very sensitive to it. This is not to say that I have overcome the tendency, but I do see its dangers, have experienced its frustrations, and am striving not to repeat the mistake. To illustrate, almost every person I know who professes Christ as Savior, regardless of how they view the relationship of faith and works to justification, believes that GRACE is an absolute in salvation. We cannot be saved independent of God’s grace. This then should be the mutual ground we start on. Yet, far too often, I have found myself (and witnessed others in similar discussions) defending the fact that they believe we are saved by grace. The assumption was that they did not, because they spoke too strongly of works in that context. That assumption then becomes the basis for a series of insinuations regarding their overall position on the doctrine. When we fail to establish and accept that mutual ground, all we end up doing is talking right past one another. Unity is nearly impossible following such a discussion. Likewise, I have seen assumption carried to the repeated insinuations that one denies works are necessary for salvation just because they say we are saved by grace without caveat. This is done despite the fact that they wholeheartedly believe you must be baptized for the remission of sin in order to be saved (as well as those actions that often precede baptism in Scripture). No matter how firmly they affirm a proper belief on the role of confession, repentance or baptism in salvation, they are repeatedly spoken to as if they do not believe it. This is talking past one another. Clearly there are cases when some are intellectually dishonest and will not own a position they clearly believe. This is another problem altogether. However, we have to be careful not to allow such dishonestly to callous and taint our views of everyone we disagree with on a given issue. On the matter of grace, faith and works, there seems to be more than enough positions to go around, without having to stereotype them and assume the worst one of those we disagree with. To avoid this, it is critical that we become effective listeners (cf. Jas. 1:19). We must always set our mutual mark as unity (cf. 1 Cor. 1:10; Phil. 1:27; John 17:20). This might not always mean conformity, and sometimes must acknowledge diversity, but it must be rooted in “endeavoring to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3). There is obviously only “one faith” (Eph. 4:5). Love demands that we strive “to believe all things” (1 Cor. 13:7), implying that we should give one another the benefits of our doubt. If we must point out an incongruence, then let it with a heart to understand one another and rectify it, not hang our brother with it (cf. Phil. 2:4). Let me suggest a few practical points for your consideration (all of which involve things I am learning and striving to do, though I make no claim to have mastered). If we are not sure of a man’s doctrinal position, ask him instead of assuming it of him and ascribing it to him (just as it is harder to win a brother offended than it is a strong city, it can be very hard to overcome a wrong assumption). Be sure to differentiate between the consequences of his position and the actual position itself (as he might not have had a chance to grapple with the consequences you are pointing out). Establish a framework for a discussion of differences by first understanding and accepting what it is you agree upon regarding those differences (it is amazing how much time and frustration this saves). Avoid prejudging those you disagree with, and instead approach them as a learning opportunity as much as a teaching opportunity (if only I had a dime for every time I came to a discussion as a teacher and walked away a student). Remember, it is easy, particularly when crossing spiritual swords, to forget that our aim is to save souls, not destroy them. This does not mean we cannot reprove or rebuke, even sharply if necessary. It means that when we must do so, let us be certain that we understand and accept the ground a man is actually walking on instead of assuming and insinuating ground that he does not walk on. This obviously applies to any topic of division, but should certainly be involved in any discussion involving the topic of grace (cf. Col. 4:6).
Posted on: Mon, 27 Jan 2014 23:13:45 +0000
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