Two-Fold Orthodoxy
In
1971, Francis Schaeffer published “The Church at the End of the 20th
Century” where he gave several far-sighted warnings of what was coming down the
pike, and what we should do. His primary emphasis for the future was on two
major needs for the church as it weathers the storms ahead: orthodoxy of
doctrine, and orthodoxy of community. Regarding the orthodoxy of community, he placed
love and unity as the centerpiece:
“Our Christian organizations must be communities in which others
see what God has revealed in the teaching of His word. They should see…that it
is possible to have something beautiful and unusual in this world in our
communication and in communities at this point of history. We may preach truth.
We may preach orthodoxy. We may even stand against the practice of untruth
strongly. But if others cannot see something beautiful in our human
relationships, if they do not see that upon the basis of what Christ has done
our Christian communities can stop their infighting, then we are not living
properly” (Francis Schaeffer, “The Church at the End of the 20th
Century,” 41).
I found that Samuel Rutherford had a similar
perspective, “The spirit of a redeemed one can hardly hate a redeemed one, or
be bitter against them; Christ in one saint cannot be cruel to Christ in
another saint.”
But Schaeffer knew that holding squarely to
both (orthodoxy in doctrine and orthodoxy in community) was a tricky affair. In
fact, later in that book he wrote, “Several years ago I wrestled with the
question of what was wrong with much of the church that stood for purity. I came
to the conclusion that in the flesh we can stress purity without love or we can
stress the love of God without purity, but that in the flesh we cannot stress
both simultaneously” (144).
In the flesh we cannot do both, and yet both
are required by our Lord. That is deeply convicting. It requires God’s grace in
us, and his Spirit in us. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against
such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have
crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit,
let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited,
provoking one another, envying one another” (Galatians 5:22-26).
In a dark and dreary world where aggressive
agitations in speech and demeanor score big points, get people elected or
elevated, and collect huge followings, what Schaeffer understood is rich. In
this world, a church that is filled with the Spirit and God’s grace will be
able to hold to both, orthodoxy of doctrine and orthodoxy of community. And
when that happens, we become a sanctuary for many storm-tossed, weather-beaten
souls.
Let us pray that our congregation will continue, with God’s help, to hold both simultaneously. Let us recognize that as we continue doing this, we are pushing hard against a culture that is pushing hard against us. And let us beseech God for the larger church in North America that he would stir our spirits to fully to grasp onto orthodoxy of doctrine and orthodoxy of community, for his glory, our good, and the gospel’s sake.
Pastor
Mike
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