Regrettably, some Bible-based Christians quibble over doctrine. Controversial areas are as vast as the words from Genesis to Revelation. Bible scholars debate the method and timing of the creation and wage wars of words regarding repentance, baptism, the resurrection and the end times.Mormons criticize Christians for their divisions of doctrine, but LDS church members certainly aren’t exempt. During my 11 years in the Mormon church, including two as a full-time missionary, I discovered that Latter-day Saints are divided on numerous doctrines. These include the nature and progression of God, the origin and atonement of Christ, what constitutes the word of the Lord, the possession and use of spiritual gifts, and how to define and obtain everlasting life. In fact, believers in Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon are so divided over doctrine that more than 100 LDS splinter groups have arisen since Smith’s death in 1844. And more are surfacing. So Mormons might do well to remove the doctrinal plank out of their own eyes instead of focusing on the specks found in Christianity (Matthew 7:3).
During his intercessory prayer, the most compelling pleading recorded in scripture, Jesus entreated long and hard for Christians to be of one mind and spirit, even as he and the Father are (John 17:11, 21, 22). Demonstrating unity of purpose and doctrine, Christians would evidence that the Father commissioned Jesus Christ as mankind’s Savior and Redeemer (John 17:21).
In the end, when each of our eternal destinies is on the line, peripheral teachings will matter little. To baptize by sprinkling, immersion or at the believer’s option; why the Bible was written and compiled as it is; the details of the rapture and forthcoming judgment; the speaking of tongues in relation to salvation—all of these doctrinal tug-of-wars (and more) are bantered back and forth by faithful followers of Christ. I see no harm in that as long as believers hold fast to essential gospel doctrine.
A devoted student of scripture, I don’t expect doctrinal divides among Christians to vanish soon. The Savior wants his followers to be unified, disseminating his and the apostles’ doctrine (Acts 2:42). But his prayer might only be answered when we’re in his personal presence. Perhaps only then will he cement believers together in doctrine and church practice. Until that delightful day, it’s best to view doctrinal disagreements in light of what Paul wrote to ancient believers. His advice applies today as it did in yesteryear: “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2 ESV).
Earlier, when addressing believers who lived in Corinth, the apostle asked them to shun doctrinal divisions. “Now I exhort you, brethren,” he pleaded, “by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. For I have been informed . . . there are quarrels among you. Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, ‘I am of Paul,’ and ‘I of Apollos,’ and ‘I of Cephas,’ and ‘I of Christ.’ Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:10–13).
In 1 Corinthians 15:1–4, Paul explained the gospel of Jesus Christ, clarifying it’s the only gospel that saves (v. 2). In four brief verses, the apostle defined the gospel, namely, that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and was resurrected three days later. Notice Paul did not claim the gospel is a system of laws and ordinances, including temple marriage, that Christians must obey to receive eternal life. Rather, his message was much simpler.
He emphasized Jesus Christ and him crucified.
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