..Today, one of the common complaints from the progressive side is that evangelicals are always \u201cdrawing lines\u201d\u009d and \u201cmaking distinctions\u201d\u009d and \u201cpolicing boundaries\u201d\u009d and declaring \u201cwho\u2019s in and who\u2019s out.\u201d\u009d One wonders what they\u2019d say about the apostles, whose concern about boundaries stands out in so many of their letters, right in line with Jesus\u2019 frequent warnings against false teachers.<\/p>\n
Like Jesus, the New Testament writers made constant appeals to unity, but they also drew bold, dark lines regarding what constituted genuine Christian teaching. Flip through any of the letters of Paul, Peter, Jude, and John, and you can\u2019t help but notice the contrast between sound doctrine and error, unity and schism, what constitutes true teaching versus false.<\/p>\n
Where Did the Schism Start?<\/b><\/p>\n
Schisms are indeed tragic, and Christians are right to resist them and seek any other avenue of resolution. But in our efforts to avoid schism, we must not fail to ask the question: Where is the division coming from?<\/p>\n