Mark of a Christian

I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off. So I ran over and said ‘Stop! don’t do it!’ ‘Why shouldn’t I?’ he said. I said, ‘Well, there’s so much to live for!’ He said, ‘Like what?’
I said, ‘Well…are you religious or atheist?’ He said, ‘Religious.’ I said, ‘Me too!
Are you Christian or Buddhist?’ He said, ‘Christian.’ I said, ‘Me too!
Are you Catholic or Protestant?’ He said, ‘Protestant.’ I said, ‘Me too!
Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?’ He said, ‘Baptist!’ I said, ‘Wow! Me too!
Are you Baptist church of god or Baptist church of the lord?’ He said, ‘Baptist church of god!’ I said, ‘Me too!
Are you original Baptist church of god, or are you reformed Baptist church of god?’ He said, ‘Reformed Baptist church of god!’ I said, ‘Me too!
Are you reformed Baptist church of god, reformation of 1879, or reformed Baptist church of god, reformation of 1915?’ He said, ‘Reformed Baptist church of god, reformation of 1915!’
I said, ‘Die, heretic scum,’ and pushed him off. –Emo Phillips (from Boars Head Tavern)

How are we to treat fellow Christians in our conversations with them - either in person or on the web? In the hubbub over the Federal Vision I have been amazed at the mean spiritedness that is leveled at them. I have yet to read a single review of their ‘teaching’ that represents it fairly. Instead caricatures are presented and then the warts that the reviewer drew into the picture are attacked.

Christian Counter Culture dot com’s new issue discusses the true mark of a Christian with a summary of the book, The Mark of Jesus by Timothy George and John Woodbridge.

But we should never forget that Jesus does give the world the right to decide whether we are true Christians based upon our observable love for one another.

By this all men will know that you are my disciples,
if you love one another.
| John 13:35|

How else could they know? They cannot peer into our hearts. But they can read our lips, see our lives, and observe the way we relate to one another.

The problem I have with the article, and it may be better explained in the book, is that it does not explain well how to differentiate between those things that are worth fighting over. One man’s secondary doctrine is another man’s primary. What I can agree with is that if I am not treating that person with love then I am wrong.

Rob Schlapfer in his editor’s desk message states that:

In my opinion the most dangerous place to be on the Web today is not on an internet pornography site but in one of the the countless chatrooms, blogs, or discussion boards — published by “Christians” — that breed hatred and contempt for others.

and concludes his message with:

So enough of the arguing. An “apologetic of destruction” — devouring our “opponents” as if at war — is incongruous with the true faith delivered once and for all to the saints. Theology is not an end in and of itself. And it will be utterly useless at the last day, when we all appear before the judge (see Matthew 25.)

Enough of the gossiping. Has some Christian wronged you? Then either deal with that Christian in the manner Our Lord prescribes (in Matthew 18) or “put a blanket of love over it” (see 1 Peter 4). Airing your dirty laundry only serves to bring shame to the name of Jesus — as Paul makes abundantly clear to the Corinthians (see chapter 6.) It is self-serving, and we have been called to serve another, even Jesus.

Enough of the factionalism. There is no room among us for “carnal Christians” — those who (consciously or unconsciously) replace loyalty to Christ alone with loyalty to their group, experience, tradition or confession of faith.

Are you “Reformed”? Then keep your “Reformed-ness” a very distant second to your primary identity as a member of Jesus’ family — the followers of the Risen Christ. Remember that the greatest time in history was the 1st century, not the 16th.

Are you “Charismatic”? Then keep your charismatic-ness at the same distance. Remember that the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the one that should cause us sheer excitement — occurred at Pentecost, not Azusa Street, Toronto or somewhere else.

Are you an “emergent” Christian? Then view your “emergent-ness” within the broader context of God’s Spirit working throughout the world in a variety of contexts, some of which may seem outdated to you.

We are called to follow Jesus, Our Risen Lord. And we are called to love one another in the same manner that he has loved us — to “bear the mark of the Christian.” There is NOTHING more important than that. For if we do not manifest that love, we are telling the world that Christianity is a huge fraud. Nothing could be more tragic.

What about you? Are you bearing the mark? If not, do what I have had to do countless times: pray that God will push everything else to the periphery of your life so that you can focus on this one area. If need be, formally apologize to those you might have stumbled through your behavior. And receive God’s grace, remembering that only He is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy . . .

But above all things, love fervently.

Just because I disagree with someone’s theology I do not have to condemn them. Just because someone has not come to a ‘correct’ understanding of the faith I do not have to belittle them. Just because they ask me how I can believe all that “calvinism predestination stuff” does not mean I need beat them over the head with the truth.

Before I contend with their mind have I contended for their heart? Do they understand that I love them as a brother in Christ and will continue to love them even if we are unable to come to an agreement?
I have always appreciated the masthead of Credenda/Agenda magazine:

Our brief statement of faith is available, although we are in essential agreement with the confessional statements of classical Protestantism. The statement describes our doctrinal editorial policy; it does not define the boundaries of our fellowship

and in their statement of faith under “Church Government”:

We believe that Christians must fellowship in unity with all true Christians, and that we have no right to judge the hearts of fellow servants. If God has accepted someone, we must willingly do the same.
We deny that this fellowship requires joint ministry with those Christians who teach or practice that which is unbiblical. We may believe someone to be a Christian, and yet believe them to be unqualified for leadership. The qualifications for leadership differ from those for fellowship (Romans 14:1-8; 1 Timothy 3:1-7).