FROM THE DAWGHOUSE…
Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing
For the past two weeks, we’ve addressed two important categories of belief:
One, some truths are essential to the Christian faith.
They define the gospel itself, and we must never compromise them.
Two, other doctrines are deeply important.
We should study them, develop biblical convictions, and discuss them with humility and grace.
But there is a third category that often creates more conflict in churches than either of the first two. Preferences. Every church has them.
Traditional hymns or contemporary worship.
Suits and ties or blue jeans.
Pews or chairs.
Coffee in the lobby or no coffee at all.
A cross in the sanctuary or a simple stage.
Morning services or Saturday evening gatherings.
None of these determine whether a church is faithfully proclaiming the gospel.
Yet, if we’re honest, many church disagreements have little to do with theology and everything to do with personal preference. That’s why we need wisdom. Before allowing an issue to become a point of division, it’s worth asking three simple questions:
First, is this a biblical command?
If Scripture clearly speaks, our response should be obedience, whether it aligns with our preferences or not.
Second, is this an important doctrine that faithful Christians have understood differently?
If so, we should study God’s Word diligently, develop convictions, and extend grace to those who reach different conclusions while remaining faithful to Scripture.
Third, is this simply my preference? That question requires humility.
Sometimes what feels “right” to us is simply familiar. We assume our traditions, experiences, or personal tastes are the biblical standard when, in reality, they are simply the way we’ve always done things.
The apostle Paul modeled a different attitude. In 1 Corinthians 9, he willingly set aside personal rights in order to remove unnecessary barriers to the gospel. His question wasn’t, “What do I prefer?” but rather, “What best advances the mission Christ has given us?”
Churches make decisions every day based on their philosophy of ministry. The style of music, the design of a building, the structure of a service, or the programs they offer may all reflect thoughtful attempts to reach and disciple people in their community. Those decisions may not be commanded in Scripture, but they can still serve a biblical purpose.
That doesn’t mean every church should look the same. It does mean we should be slow to elevate our preferences to the level of biblical commands.
The church has one mission…
To glorify God by making disciples of Jesus Christ. Anything that helps accomplish that mission while remaining faithful to Scripture deserves thoughtful consideration, even if it isn’t our first choice.
As Paul wrote in Ephesians 4, we are to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). Unity doesn’t require us to surrender truth. Neither does it require everyone to share our preferences.
Mature believers know the difference.
They stand firmly on the truths worth dying for.
They study carefully the truths worth discussing.
They hold their personal preferences with open hands…
For the sake of the gospel and the glory of Christ.
May that be true of us.
Joe Bouch
