Jonathan Enns

Not taking a stand for sake of unity

// December 2nd, 2008 // theology

In my personal devotions today I was reading Mark 11:27-33. In this passage Jesus is in the temple in Jerusalem and the religious leaders approach him and ask him by whose authority he performs these things (miracles, teaching, etc..). Jesus replies in verse 29 saying that he will tell them if they answer one question:

- Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men? (see Mark 1:4-5)

The leaders begin to reason with themselves on whether they should say from heaven or from men. If they said it was from heaven then they would be guilty of not believing John, if they said it was from men then the people of Israel would have been angered as they believed John to be a prophet.

Instead they replied “We do not know” and officially took no stand.

Does this look like many churches today?

Officially not taking a stand on something scripture is clear about because it will make them unpopular, or perhaps it will offend members, or other believers. I am not just talking about doctrines essential to Salvation, but doctrines which are very important to the spiritual growth of a believer, and important in regards to following God’s Word.

If I can quote from James Gibbons’ post at Theologica: “21st Century Church—committed to doctrine-free living. I would rather know what we believe and agree to disagree than happily go along agreeing not to know what we believe.”

Psalm 119:160 says “the sum of Thy Word is truth, and every one of Thy ordinances is everlasting.”

Let us take a stand for the truth in love.