A Beautiful Heresy

Back through the ancients of time we find a belief that has been widely ignored and yet vehemently refuted by a lineage of Christians whose ideals have long usurped the liberty of the souls and conscience of mankind. Regardless of what anyone in the opposing lineage has said, even some historical Baptists have held fast to their soul liberty in matters of conscience. When Thomas Helwys split from King James, he wrote a book entitled, “The Mystery of Iniquity” in which Thomas accused King James of being a “tyrant” and who “molested the conscience of the people”. Thomas adamantly refuted the king’s claims that he had divine right to choose the clergy who would serve the king’s church. So do we only believe in soul liberty if we follow the Baptists? Does anyone else have soul liberty outside of the baptist camp? Of course we do!

We are told by Paul to “study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed” and to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling”, and to “let each man make up his own mind”. We know that even the Bereans studied diligently to make sure the apostle Paul was teaching truth. Could you imagine double checking the speaking of the apostle Paul? That’s like double checking the work of the modern popular church leaders of today. Yet so many would say, “How dare you question Pastor Popular!”

And we should be double checking the theological works of others. We are to question and wrestle with our beliefs to see if there be any virtue or praise worthy things to be said of our conclusions {Philippians 4:8}.

During this kind of inquisition we are to love the brethren. It is obvious by the evidence of over 30,000 denominations of Christianity world wide, that not everyone agrees on every perspective. Each lineage of Christianity states that they have it “closer to the truth than anyone else” and even if they refute my claim on this, just try to see how they feel about you disagreeing with one of their sacred cow doctrines and holding fast to one that opposes theirs.

When I read through the letters to the fellowship in Corinth, I tend to see a church we know of today called Pentecostalism. I’m not saying that Corinth was a Pentecostal church, but the things Paul rebuked them of, seems to be found in many Pentecostal churches today. The thing that catches my eye is that even though Paul is sending two letters to correct them, he still calls them brethren and says they are under the grace of Christ. So although he is not in agreement with what is going on in their church, he still loved them and considered them brethren.

If only we could glean this powerful truth of grace from these epistles. We really should be able to love all the brethren even when we disagree. Jesus himself informed the disciples that they should not send away those who cast out devils, just because they didn’t know them. He clearly said that since they were not against them, that meant they were for them. Then immediately after that, Jesus admonishes them to be salt to the world. He went even deeper and explained that if you cause one to stumble then it would be better to cut off the offending body part and throw it into the burning garbage heap in Gehenna. He explained that it would be better to live in the kingdom maimed than it would be to continue causing people to stumble from the truth of Christ. I believe Jesus was speaking of this kingdom life here and now within us. {Mark 9:38-50} Jesus began this section with discussing those who are serving the people with the gospel of freedom in Christ, they were casting our devils in Christ’s name. In the here and now.

He continually teaches us to love one another and especially the believers. Those that are of the household of faith are to be loved and respected. Far too often we see Christian leaders behaving with the immaturity of a playground bully. (A word to you my friends, they aren’t true leaders.) Jesus came to be the ultimate example to us and he served mankind. He laid down his life for the world. What an amazing act of love, to serve others. A true leader is the servant among you, the one with no title, who washes the feet of others, who loves and who befriends the sinners.

The ancient lineage of Christianity that I alluded to at the beginning of this article is alive and well, yet many of the brethren refute the validity of their message, although their focal point is Christ. Yes, they are brethren and under grace and if Paul were here today he would call them brethren and Jesus would say they are for Him, not against him. Every man’s work will be tried with fire and we are not to pull up the tares or you might pull up the wheat as well. He said to let them grow together. This is what grace does. Anyone we think are tares, we are to leave a lone and still love them.

If you were to ask what these Christians believe about certain things, you might get a few different answers, and yet this lineage embraces this kind of diversity. They do not refute that some are not brethren, nor do they resist offering them grace if they disagree. They don’t want to be called a denomination or be labeled with broad brush strokes. They’re on a journey like everyone else is and their focus is Christ and his finished work on the Cross. Isn’t it Jesus that holds us in the bondage of love with one another?

The belief that the Anointing has come and defeated death and the grave through the completed work on the cross is an offensive message to many, and even among some Christians. The divine desire of God’s will is that all would come to repentance and the hope of all mankind is in the completed work of the cross. It’s the hope that God’s will is done on the earth as it is in heaven.

The part of this message that seems to get tricky for some is the lingering question of what happens to those who don’t come to the saving knowledge of Christ? In so many passages Jesus is clearly speaking of the consequences in this life time. He makes a point of speaking in depth on living the kingdom life now. He goes to great length to conceal the simplicity of the cross from those who are proud and self indulgent and he reveals the plain truth to the simple and poor in spirit. Does that mean that Jesus doesn’t want the proud to enjoy the kingdom? Absolutely not! That would be working against the will of God to see all come to him. Jesus works only that which the Father reveals to him.

So why present such a mystery to one crowd and yet give the answer sheet to the others?

He came to call the sinners to change their minds about God, not the ones who have their ducks in a row. The ones who already believe don’t have need for a doctor. Those who are ill are the ones who need him. Quite a paradox isn’t it? Who are the believing and who are the unbelieving? The answer will appear to be different depending on your perspective.

The Pharisees were unbelieving and blind. Jesus explained to them that because they claim to see is why they are still blind. The self righteous, the proud, the self indulgent religious leaders needed to be healed of their blindness. They were knocking into one another every day because the beams in their eyes caused them to stumble. Jesus’ prescription was to gouge out your eye so you can live the kingdom life maimed instead of walking around stumbling into life’s garbage dump that burned day and night. Those who refused to believe would be burned, like the chaff on the threshing floor, to reveal what is good for the Master’s table. If we don’t gauge out our own offending eyes then the beams will be burned so that we can see clearly what is set on the table before us. He calls the unbelieving to change their minds. Do not continue to fall into pits blindly. Stop falling down over the stumbling blocks. Ask to be healed so that you can see. It takes humility to admit you don’t have all the answers. It takes humility to admit your are ill and in need of the Doctor. “But I do many works in the name of Jesus!” Yet you fail to walk in the kingdom of grace.

The hope of all mankind, the glad tidings of great joy which is for all people, the evangel that is spread abroad to all nations that Christ is risen and offered himself for all of mankind. The message of reconciliation says that God has redeemed mankind through His Son. It is a finished work on the cross.

1 Timothy 4:10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

Back in Mark 9 he closes his thoughts with these words, “be at peace with one another.”

It is with those words that I declare that this lineage of Christians who dare to go against the grain and actually believe in the hope that Jesus really is the Savior of all mankind, are our brethren and are to be loved as brethren…even if you happen to disagree with them. They are under grace and seek to further the kingdom with the message of reconciliation. In all the flavors, diversity, and varieties of Christian Universalism, their focus is Christ and the finished work of the cross. It’s high time we put down our hatchets and shake hands with all the brethren as we all seek to love others into the kingdom.

2 Timothy 1: 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

One man’s heresy is another man’s truth. It is a beautiful heresy to have hope that God’s will…will actually be done.