Do We Really Differ?
By M. F. Cottrell
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In the April issue of MISSION MESSENGER Brother Grayson Ensign presented an excellent article entitled, "Is Unity Possible in Diversity?" Frankly, it is as good as we have heard or read from any source. In it he quotes from our book, "Refocusing God, the Bible and the Church," and it is a quotation on page 56 of the paper, with his sincere comment, which we feel merits a word from us. Here is the quotation:
Such is hardly the case when one studies the epistles. Having been written perhaps as emergency teachings and advice to correct errors of the hour, little opportunity was left for much inspired apostolic supplement to the Great Life. Hence, the greater issues of life as dealt with by Jesus had to give preference to various individual and congregational problems which it appears often consisted of marginal error. While this was of course important, it points up what is stated elsewhere, namely: "All truths are equally true, but not equally important." (Refocusing God, the Bible, and the Church, p.40).
Brother Ensign adds: "This as it sounds to me is way off center and flies in the face of express declarations of scripture. The epistles are the applications of Christ's life and teaching for all time. Did the Holy Spirit really allow such a waste of effort and space for trifling and marginal error?"
Perhaps we did not make ourselves clear and perhaps our brother did not carefully note the very next paragraph in our book. In fact, we think it says just about what our brother states with the exception of his question at the close of the preceding quotation. Our subsequent paragraph reads:
As already stated, the life, teachings and works of Jesus give us the best demonstration of those principles to be applied for the integration of man into the harmony of life and will of the Eternal. Our views permit us only to view the epistles as inspired encouragement and teaching with some reapplication and adaptation of Christ's principles in the form of corrective measures as the need arose. Very important, yes, but not equally important in relation to the invasion of Christ into human life."
Brother Ensign interprets me as "introducing a dichotomy of value or authority between the teachings of Christ and those of the inspired apostles." Let me hasten to assure our brother that both teachings carry the same weight with me. As to the "value" of any and all inspired teachings, I believe I can best express their emotional and spiritual amalgam for me by the term "meaningfulness." But regardless of our semantics, my view and statement is based upon the well known statement of the Lord himself to the effect that there are "weightier matters." This, of course, implies less important ones, but not unimportant ones!
Brother Ensign's question, "Did the
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On the other hand, I am sure that neither Brother Ensign nor myself will champion the thought that Paul is "hitting new high water marks" (or even wasting effort and space) when the same Holy Spirit allows: "The cloak that I left...when thou comest, bring with thee" (2 Tim. 4:13). To me, this along with even more relevant statements and exhortations regarding New Testament Christianity are hardly as important as, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life!" This, I hope adequately illustrates about all I meant in endeavoring to place the Gospels, Letters and Epistles in perspective as I see them. If Brother Ensign and myself are not as yet communicating, let no one worry for a moment. We both have our spiritual antennas up and are tuned to the same station.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: Grayson Ensign writes that, after reading the above, he finds himself in substantial agreement with M. F. Cottrell).