I’ll be happy when we can stop labeling believers in…

‘I’ll be happy when we can stop labeling believers in different streams/tribes “pagans,” “apostates,” and “reprobates” simply because they disagree with us on secondary or tertiary matters. Maybe it won’t be til we’re in heaven together, but I’ll be happy when we can stop that.’

@jaredcwilson

I know a lot of times on here and over on twitter I’ll see people arguing pretty ferociously with each other (brothers and sisters in Christ specifically) over things I would consider secondary or even tertiary issues. I feel like almost all of us agree with that statement but we could get into a battle into what exactly is or isn’t a primary issue.

I can’t speak for Jared or any of the other people I’ve quoted along these same lines but I’ll tell you what I’ve come to. I’m holding super tight to 1 Corinthians 15:3 where Paul writes, “For what I received I passed on to you as of *first importance* that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…”

I feel like everything hinges on this truth - without my sins and dire need for a savior, without Christ being born and dying for my sins, and without his resurrection on the third day; if not for that I have no faith. I believe by this gospel I have been saved.

It’s simple and easy because frankly I’m a simple and easy person. If there’s something to debate about apart from that, the secondary and tertiary issues, the age of the earth, whether we speak tongues or not, the rapture, gender roles, and all the other things I promise to listen and not be divided because we are joined *eternally* on the primary issue that unites us as no other issue can.