Should This Matter?

“Diversity” is the hot term of today!  It is a huge component of our culture’s concept of a more enlightened and informed society.  It is sought out in every workplace, college campus, and community.  In a secular context, diversity of thinking can certainly be helpful.  New ideas can definitely progress a society and help with technological advancements.  It can challenge us into a new way of thinking about a topic or secure our current views in place.

However, diversity of thought in the church is a whole different matter.  And please note that I am speaking of diversity of thinking and not diversity of culture or race or background (the Bible celebrates the many nations that come to Jesus).  Sadly, diversity of thought has penetrated our Christian churches as a benefit.  When it comes to the Christian faith, this line of thinking is not only dangerous but strictly against what God commands of His church.

Peter, in 1 Peter 3:8, tells the church to be “all of one mind”.  I had to ponder this for a moment.  How can we do that?  The church is made up of many people who all have different minds.  We view things differently!  How on earth can we all be of ONE mind?

One-mindedness is only possible when we all follow ONE doctrine/truth that is outside of ourselves.  Every member must know and understand that ONE truth and follow it.  The thought input of the individual person is limited because the ONE truth is more important than the individual’s desires.  For Christians, this truth is God’s Word!

In today’s culture, however, pluralism has taken root in our society and has blossomed.  In the religious sense, pluralism holds that multiple belief systems can all be true and co-exist.  Of course, in a society such as America where the freedom of religion is held as a vital standard, multiple religions should and do co-exist.  However, the religions individual claims of truth cannot be equally right.  It is not possible for Islam, for example, to be just as true as Christianity as both claim the ultimate truth of God but their claims do not reconcile with one another.  One or the other (or both) must be wrong.

God does not mince words.  He is very clear that His Word and His Word ALONE is the only truth.  Here are a few examples:

It is a basic tenant of Christianity that Jesus Christ is the one and ONLY way to salvation.  To deny this is to deny the Bible, God’s Word.  If you do that then you are not a Christian.

So to be of “one mind” as a church body, we must hold fast to the only truth in this world: God’s truth.  Diversity can be great, but we must stand in solidarity of God’s Word and beware of religious pluralism.  Every thought and action must be compared to truth (God’s Word).

Peter describes what this “one mind” is in chapter 4 verse 1-2.  It is ceasing from sin by choosing to live in the will of God and not the lusts of the flesh just as Jesus did.  How do we know the will of God?  We need to know God’s Word – Scripture!

1 Peter 4:1-3 (KJV)

1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

² That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

We have been warned of false teachers who come to infiltrate our churches and persuade us away from the truth.  One-mindedness in the knowledge of the Word of God is the best way to combat that in our churches.  Sadly, we are failing at really “knowing” God’s Word preferring to suck milk as babes instead of growing to solid food.  We like the easy doctrine but shy away from the tough truths that are built upon the basics.  God has some tough words for these false prophets and the ones who follow them.  Their end is destruction.  We must be sure to not follow them to their doom.  There are many passages that stress the importance of recognizing false prophets.  Here I will stick with what Peter says on false prophets since I started this article with Peter.

There is only ONE truth.  That is logically the only way it can be!  If there is not one truth then there is no truth.  Not everyone can be right.

As Christians we must be “one minded” and that must be God’s Word.  Anything else is false.  Do not fall prey to religious pluralism which sounds nice.  It even sounds loving.  It makes everyone feel good to think that they are right or could be.  But I would argue that is not love.  If you know the truth and are ok with others believing the lie, then their blood is on your hands.  We cannot have both religious pluralism and God’s Word.  These are contradictory doctrines.

We know that Christ is coming again.  Those who do not abide in His truth will perish.  Those who do abide in God’s Word will receive everlasting life.  To believe in pluralism is folly because in the end, truth is truth.  No one can change that.