And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cove the multitude of sins. I Peter 4:7

I have noticed a few things among Christians that I would like to address. Among us conservative Christians we tend to have a lot of ideas about every topic and idea that we believe are Scriptural. And well it should be. This is called a world view, or how we look at things, and it should be shaped by Scripture. However there is a downside to all of us as conservatives, and could be a well set trap by the Devil. I have read and seen many good Christians attack each other condemning them as unscriptural and unchristian. The thinking goes something like this. Brother X has certain beliefs, ideas, writings which I did not think are quite Scriptural, therefore he must not be a Christian and must be labeled and avoided at all costs. Now I am not speaking about those who are preaching a false gospels or heretical doctrine. I mean those who have a worldview on a certain subject that we feel is not on as Scripturally solid ground as my own idea. Often conservative churches split and divide over such things. While liberals say they love everyone, what they really mean is that they accept everyone without necessarily loving them at all. On the other hand, conservatives in an effort to guard doctrinal and outward purity, often fail to maintain love even among themselves. There is an important truth here, there is an hierarchy of ideas; not of people. By that I mean there there is some ideas that are more Biblical then others, and therefore better. But people are of intrinsic worth, that is of eternal value because they were made by God. We are never commanded to love people's ideas; we are commanded to love them. I John 4:20, "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" Unity does not mean we have to agree in everything. Again I am not talking about joining ourselves with everyone out there that names the name of Christ. For example, I do not believe in many of the tenants of Calvinism to be Scriptural, however there are those of Calvinistic persuasion who are far more Godly than I am. However, I likely will have trouble joining closely with him in his work because of differences in ideas. I still must love him however.
As we grow in the Lord as Christians we will become more and more conformed to the image of Christ in our minds, and gain more discernment about how to live in an ungodly world. As we do this, we may become more conservative in our ideas and life, and therefore less like our fellow Christians. This is becoming conformed into the image of Christ. But gaining just knowledge is not enough. Remember knowledge "puffs up". And herein lies the danger. Knowledge must be relational for it to be any good. If your knowledge does not bring you in a closer relationship to Christ, it is of no value to you even if it is true. I Corinthians 13 tells us if we have all knowledge without love it is worth nothing. Therefore to gain knowledge is essential, but not at the expense of love. Knowledge should grow as we grow spiritually, and knowledge should be gained in order to increase our relationship to God. But love is not based on our knowledge as we have said. Love, as we are using the word here, is an strong affection or desire for. This may be so if you has much knowledge as the Apostle Paul, or as little as the most pagan heathen. This love comes from God. It was said of the early Christians, "Behold how they love one another". Notice that they were not a perfect church, nor were they in agreement in all things. They were in unity, however because of this love. This is know in theology as Agape love, or what C. S. Lewis says, "Is an unconditional love directed towards one's neighbor which is not dependant on any lovable qualities that the object of love possesses." This is the strongest love we know of. This is the love which God loves us with. "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." I John 4:10 God loved us before we loved Him. And if our brother is genuinely saved, he or she is a son of God, and how much then should we love them.
In conclusion, as conservatives we are and should be against some ideas and things. But love is not bringing my brother in unity with how I think. Unity is a bond that is occasioned because we love the same thing, that is God. Knowledge must inform my relationship to God and inform my love. Knowledge can then be shared with my brother, not to make him like me, but to help him to love God better. This love must come from God, and is not occasioned because my brother is lovable in mine eyes. My brother is a child of God, and not to love him is to deny him of his Sonship with God. This is why I John says that we cannot love God and still hate our brother. Love is not based on how much my brother knows, but on his relationship with Christ. Oh, how many problems this would solve in our conservative churches if all would practice these principles! Brethren, let us Love.

Here is an excellent article on Conservative Holiness People written by Keith Drury, who wrote Holiness for Ordinary People. It exemplifies some of the good points of our people. It doesn't take long to read, please take a moment to read, and then let me know your thoughts. Regards, Seth


http://www.drurywriting.com/keith/like.old.fashioned.holiness.people.htm

Here is a link to a terrible blog by a young man entitled The Myth of Adolesence. I hope you will read it. There is a second part as well. I think he is right on. We need to stop telling our young people that they can't do anything and expect more of them. Please let me know your thought on this article!!!

http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2005/08/myth-of-adolescence-part-1/