CYPRESS WOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST

February 6, 2005

 

LIFT UP IN PRAYER:

Our congregation                                                                  Various friends, relatives and co-workers

Our nation, military and leaders                                          David and Leon in the Navy

Our college students                                                            The Henderson’s are traveling

 

 

 

ACCEPT THEY AGREE

 

“Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so” (Amos 3:3).

 

In churches of Christ over the years, two key points of view have opposed each other. The argument is between doctrinal purity and unity. When the early preachers of the Restoration Movement began, they wanted a united Christianity and sought grounds on which it could occur. Over the years however, more and more disagreement brought the desire for doctrinal purity at the expense of unity. And more and more matters of opinion have become doctrine so that it is more difficult to obtain unity. With this, texts are use to show that unity is found only in doctrinal unity. What some want however is not unity but uniformity, that is, agreement with me on all points. If not then we can not be united.

 

Now we need to understand that there are basics that we all need to agree on. For instance, there is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, what Paul calls the gospel (I Corinthians 15:1-4). This is an essential teaching of which we must agree. We would agree that scripture is God’s word in order to have a basis of discussion. We would agree that there is the church, which of course means God’s people, and that we have responsibilities within the body of Christ in worship and edification. Then there is a standard by which to live, a way that reflects Christ living in us, in which we are examples to one another and others. It is when we get into the details that we have difficulties.

 

In an effort to keep people together, some have found verses that seem to support their views. One is found in the book of Amos. In the King James Version it reads, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” It appears from this translation that unity means working out every detail before we can be united. At least that is how some use this text. But is that the meaning?

 

Other translations give a different idea. “Do two people travel together unless they have agreed?” (Revised English Bible). “Do two men start traveling together without arranging to meet?” (Today’s English Version). “Do two walk together unless they have an appointment?” (RSV). The Hebrew word for “agreed” means “to know.” Two walk down a road together because they know each other is the idea being expressed. What is happening in Amos is the prophet has come speaking to Israel and the coming judgment on the nation at the hands of the Assyrians. In chapter three, God is speaking. He is saying that some things just come in pairs and one of those things is that sin brings punishment. This verse really has nothing to do with unity.

 

The problem today is that some want unity and others want uniformity. Uniformity means that we must agree on just about everything. If not then there is something wrong, some one is in error, and that person must be labeled. Just consider some of the things this view holds. We must agree that if one does not attend every service of the church, they are not faithful. We must agree that the elders are the unquestioned authority for matters of opinion and that they can change their opinion to equate it with doctrine. We must agree on which translation may be used. We must agree on which songs may be sung.