[Lafon]

Originally Posted by Esaias

We are instructed to maintain the unity of the Spirit until we come to the unity of the faith. Therefore there are some things which come over a pulpit that can be put on the back burner so to say.

The highlighted portion of your statement is excerpted from a "tradition of man" (composed by Witherspoon at the meeting in which two ministerial licensing agencies joined to form the UPC), however, it is NOT Scriptural! Indeed, it is far from it. Please allow me to explain ...

In the words of Ephesians 4:1-3 (NLT) it is written - "Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.”

Within the context of these passages Paul is speaking of the "unity of the Spirit" among brethren, sort of another way of saying the same thing he penned in the words of I Corinthians 1:10 - "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment."

However, in the words of Ephesians 4:11-13 (NLT) Paul is speaking of an entirely different matter, to wit: "Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.”

Do you grasp the different issues being addressed within the context of these two portions of Paul's writings? In the former he is referring to "unity" among brethren to the extent that it "mirrors" that of the Spirit, whereas in the latter he is referring to the "functions" and "purposes" of the various gifts which God gives to some members of the church which will bring them into a "unity of the faith." These are two distinctly different issues, and NOT as Witherspoon concluded.

Now if that was not bad enough, Witherspoon really went "off the deep end" and added this addendum to his Fundamental Doctrine Statement: "We shall endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit until we all come into the unity of the faith, at the same time admonishing all brethren that they shall not contend for their differing views to the disunity of the body." That statement stands in direct conflict with Jude's admonition, to wit, “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3, KJV).

I would rather heed Jude's words than Witherspoon's.

Also, unless one claims to have perfect knowledge of all things one has to admit one is still learning, and therefore a disagreement may be caused by one's own error rather than the church's.

Very true!

Can two walk together except they be agreed? Yes, in fact, but only so far as they are in agreement.

Christ Jesus said otherwise in the words of Matthew 12:25, to wit, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand."

On a practical basis, I would say fundamental doctrines are essential, such as the unity of God, the Lordship of Christ, repentance and faith, baptism, the Holy Ghost, the reality of healing, resurrection and eternal judgment.

Sadly, many today, do just have you've done; fail to take heed to two “key” words the Hebrews writer used in prefacing the six elements or components which comprise the entire teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment” (Hebrews 6:1-2, KJV).

These two words are “principles,” or truths which form the very “foundation” of everything which our Lord taught. What happens when imperfect mortals, such as we all are, neglect to take note of these two words? Well, we begin to add to them, or change them in one form or another, just as you’ve done, and yet you classify them as “fundamental.” Admittedly, all of the things you stated as being “fundamental” are true, but they are NOT those “principles” which comprise the “foundation” of our Lord’s doctrine!

My thoughts about the matter.