Listen to the words of a young minister, written many years ago:
"Stop and think a moment. The one great barrier that separates professing Christians into denominational bundles -- that keeps them apart -- that promotes rivalry, hatred, and causes continued new splits and divisions -- is this insane insistence that the other fellow must see 'eye to eye' on every little point of doctrine! The one chord that binds together each little denominational bundle is the identical thing which has caused every split and division that ever took place between brethren -- DOCTRINE! As long as DOCTRINE is employed as the basis for church unity, every so-called 'church' will continue to suffer strife, division and separation into more division.
"And yet each denomination firmly believes that it, and it alone, is God's one and only TRUE CHURCH! And they think they base their claim on solid Bible evidence, the same as YOU probably think about YOURS!" (Quoted from Herbert W. Armstrong, editorial, The Plain Truth, March 1938, page 4)
If the important thing is for everyone to see things exactly the same way, such an effort is doomed to failure, because no two humans view everything alike, let alone a whole congregation or denomination all having exactly the same viewpoint.
As the years went by, the young minister quoted above strayed from his earlier viewpoint. He felt the need to exert power and authority over the members of his denomination in order to keep them under control, so they would remain as members of his One True Church. Enforcing doctrinal uniformity was the means he chose. This aging minister fell victim, in the 1970s, to the same malady he spoke out against in 1938! The emphasis shifted to, "I know the way. Follow me." "We are the True Church, and we have the True Doctrines." In fact, "Follow me as I follow Christ" became a frequently used proverb in his sermons. Members and followers were assured that the church would lead them into a place of safety, and then on into the Kingdom of God, but in order to catch a ride on this minister's coattails, the members needed to conform to the doctrines being taught. If there were people who had trouble with any of the doctrines, they either needed to change their mind and accept, or quietly leave and miss out on salvation. Once again, doctrine divided.
(Jack M. Lane)
"Stop and think a moment. The one great barrier that separates professing Christians into denominational bundles -- that keeps them apart -- that promotes rivalry, hatred, and causes continued new splits and divisions -- is this insane insistence that the other fellow must see 'eye to eye' on every little point of doctrine! The one chord that binds together each little denominational bundle is the identical thing which has caused every split and division that ever took place between brethren -- DOCTRINE! As long as DOCTRINE is employed as the basis for church unity, every so-called 'church' will continue to suffer strife, division and separation into more division.
"And yet each denomination firmly believes that it, and it alone, is God's one and only TRUE CHURCH! And they think they base their claim on solid Bible evidence, the same as YOU probably think about YOURS!" (Quoted from Herbert W. Armstrong, editorial, The Plain Truth, March 1938, page 4)
If the important thing is for everyone to see things exactly the same way, such an effort is doomed to failure, because no two humans view everything alike, let alone a whole congregation or denomination all having exactly the same viewpoint.
As the years went by, the young minister quoted above strayed from his earlier viewpoint. He felt the need to exert power and authority over the members of his denomination in order to keep them under control, so they would remain as members of his One True Church. Enforcing doctrinal uniformity was the means he chose. This aging minister fell victim, in the 1970s, to the same malady he spoke out against in 1938! The emphasis shifted to, "I know the way. Follow me." "We are the True Church, and we have the True Doctrines." In fact, "Follow me as I follow Christ" became a frequently used proverb in his sermons. Members and followers were assured that the church would lead them into a place of safety, and then on into the Kingdom of God, but in order to catch a ride on this minister's coattails, the members needed to conform to the doctrines being taught. If there were people who had trouble with any of the doctrines, they either needed to change their mind and accept, or quietly leave and miss out on salvation. Once again, doctrine divided.
(Jack M. Lane)