Grace and Schism

By F. L. Lemley

[Page 77]

     The "Church of Christ" of the 20th century has been built upon a legal foundation and this has been the source of numerous schisms. All sectarian leaders in the church think they perfectly understand grace, but in the end, they always have two doors into heaven--the pearly gates through which they expect to enter and the iron gates of law through which they propose to force their "erring brethren" to enter. Numerous godly, holy, sincere and devoted Christ-loving producers of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23), are wrongly classified as heretics. They are guilty only of disagreeing on some text of scripture, a liberty which God permits. Our schisms were not created over immorality, perversion, depravity or rebellion, but over intellectual disagreement about meanings of words, interpretations and applications.

     When they are faced with the impossible legal problem of having to be perfect in order to be saved by law, our sectarian brethren throw themselves upon the grace and mercy of God and plead for imputed righteousness, imputed obedience, and imputed perfection, because there is no other way for them to be saved. But these same brethren turn to those who differ with them over some of "our issues" and demand that they enter heaven only through the iron gates of law as it is interpreted by the "loyal brethren."

     There is no mercy! You must either conform, even if it is against your own knowledge and conscience, or you will be expelled. Matthew 18:21-35 deals with this very problem in the story of the unforgiving servant. If I ever expect to enter the pearly gates of God's grace by imputed righteousness, I must demonstrate grace toward my brethren who differ with me about instrumental music, Sunday schools, the Herald of Truth program, and on and on. There will not be two doors into heaven, one through which "erring I" may enter, and the iron portals of law through which "erring you" will be forced to enter. If I am to accept God's grace which makes allowances for my mistakes and imperfections, I must extend grace to those who are guilty of different imperfections than mine. It is still true that he will receive no mercy who has shown no mercy.

     (F. L. Lemley can be addressed at 422 North Division Street, Bonne Terre, Missouri 63628.)