Uniting Against False Gospels

Let me start this thread by bringing up a negative, something I wish I did not need to do. This thread is not a Monergist vs. Synergist thread. There is a forum for that and there is never a shortage of opinions on that topic. This post is motivated by a recent thread on false gospels. I will appreciate it if you give me some slack here and allow me to make my point and possibly spur an edifying conversation.

If any of you follow some of the debates that take place within Christianity, no two individuals are less vocal than Dr. Michael Brown and Dr. James White. Dr. Brown is a Continualist and a Synergist. Dr. White is a Cessationist and a Monergist. They have debated each other. You can view their debate on predestination here: Predestination Debate. What I find most interesting is that both men have developed an affection for each other in Christ. More than that, they have joined together to oppose the issue of false gospels. Neither of them has yielded to the other on their theological distinctives. Both of them think the other is wrong when it comes to Monergism vs. Synergism and the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit. However, they recognize that justification by faith in Christ alone is what separated biblical Christianity from the errors of Rome, the Watchtower Society, Mormonism, and even liberal-progressive Christianity. Recently they joined together in debating two LGBT pastors. You can view that debate here: Debate on LGBT and the Consistency of the Gospel.

Both men have been viciously attacked by people from their own side. This is to be expected. What I find fascinating is that these two men recognize a common enemy and decided to unite on areas in which they are in agreement in order to oppose the enemy. At the risk of being redundant, their unity in one area does not negate their differences in another area. Their differences over the items mentioned previously would make partnership within a local church difficult or impossible. They both know that. But they also know that even though they have differences over some aspects about how the gospel functions*, they are agreed that the gospel is the good news and calls for sinners to repent and believe. Anything contrary to that is a false gospel and deserves to be opposed.

Is this limited unity between Dr's. Brown and White a good thing? If so, why? Is it a bad thing? Again, if so, why? What can we take from their partnership against the false gospel?

*Both men differ on their respective views on predestination and election.

 

I suppose a lot of that depends on how much importance a particular church or denomination places on a point of doctrine. For instance, I don't think a free will Baptist Church would take kindly to a perserverance of the saints contingent. But I have in mind cooperation among believers on common areas of belief.

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Interesting. Does your church have an official doctrinal position? Do they disagree with each other through their teaching or do they avoid the topic?

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The church I attend subscribes to the New Hampshire Confession as well. The area I live in is not known for Reformed Baptist churches. My views are not in the mainstream, so I keep a low profile in order to preserve harmony with my brothers and sisters in Christ.

 

I will use my own situation as an example. I am willing to stand side-by-side with other believers in my church for the sake of the Gospel, even though we disagree on certain doctrines. I will continue to do so with a clear conscience unless/until my own convictions would be compromised. I am not looking for something like to happen, but I am wise enough to know that anything is possible. Church leadership changes, and with new leadership often times comes new ways of doing things. Partnering with other believers outside of the local church is a different matter. Not all of us have public apologetics ministries like Dr. White and Dr. Brown. However, there are ministry opportunities at crisis pregnancy centers, Christian food banks, and Christian summer camps, just to name a few. There are also ministries such as the Gideons International which has members from various theological persuasions within Christianity. To the extent that these ministries correctly present the Gospel, they provide ways in which believers can labor together, even if they disagree on certain things.