Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: "Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Acts 15:6-9
As the young Church sought the Lord’s will regarding the Jewish/Gentile dispute, note first that there was “much dispute.” This reminds us that even among believers there are differences of opinion—even vehement differences. Let us be reminded that there are two kinds of issues about which we might disagree.
There are differences that have only one absolute answer. We call these essential doctrinal matters. They include the deity of Christ, His death, and resurrection. Regarding these essential matters, there is only one correct answer, so opposing parties are either right or wrong. The correct answers to these problems are either clearly answered in scripture, or have been hammered out by the godly people who have gone before us and settled these matters. We must, therefore, be students of scripture, as well as aware of how differences have been settled in Church history.
There are also issues about which believers may legitimately disagree and about which there is not one absolute answer. We call these non-essential or secondary matters. In these areas of disagreement, we must be humble and charitable with those with whom we disagree. First, because we may be wrong. And second, because it may not matter to the extent that we cannot disagree agreeably. These are often more methodological than theological. What kind of bread for communion? Wine or juice for communion? Should a church have separate Sunday school for the children, or should the children be in the worship service with their parents? I trust you can see the difference between this kind of issue and the essential doctrinal issues mentioned in the preceding paragraph.
The first order of business when disagreements arise, is whether the matter is an essential, or a non essential matter. And in all matters, may we be humble, loving, desirous of unity in all things. And as we will see next time, the Jewish/Gentile issue was clearly an essential matter…