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Scattered Sheep
Phil Maxwell 8/02
A strong argument could be made that the deity of Christ
doctrine is the most significant defining feature of ‘mainstream churches’
in this generation. More than any other doctrine, this one is regarded by most
of the members of ‘mainstream churches’ as the line between ‘orthodox’
and ‘cultic’ religions. It is the one link that binds all the denominations
and sects of ‘mainstream Christianity’, even enveloping the major sects of
both trinitarian and oneness believing groups.
That being the case, it is in a way natural and understandable to identify those
who don’t hold this doctrine accordingly, but doing so doesn’t necessarily
account for the true nature of this division. In essence, to primarily identify
believers who don’t affirm this doctrine is to affirm not only the doctrine,
but also the fact that institutionalized Christianity requires their members to
affirm this doctrine and rejects those who don’t. Thus, from the perspective
of mainstream Christianity, those who don’t affirm this doctrine are, in fact,
distinguished by this feature above all.
However, while I can and do accept the rejection of mainstream Christianity on
this basis, the same is not true in reverse. In fact, speaking for myself, this
(not the doctrine itself) is what distinguishes me from mainstream Christianity
more than anything else. I don’t require others to affirm my view of God the
Father and His Son, Yahshua, in order to receive them in spiritual fellowship.
Sufficient for me, as the apostles, is their affirmation that there is one God
and Father of all, and one Lord and Messiah, Yahshua the Son of God. In other
words, I am only separated from other believers who demand my affirmation of a
doctrine (that I neither believe nor regard as essential to salvation) because
THEY reject me.
In all my years, I’m yet to hear a solid argument for THIS attitude. Even
those who believe the deity of Christ are without excuse for their part in
rejecting those whom Christ has received on this basis, even if by proxy.
Wherever such divisiveness is manifested and tolerated, the whole body is
infected by allowing their eyes to be full of darkness and their right hands to
do evil in sight of God. Woe to those who cast stumbling blocks!
Thus, the tie that binds those who reject the deity of Christ doctrine is not
that belief, it is the wholesale rejection by the mainstream churches they
share, and that goes beyond this doctrine. Churches reject people for many
reasons that Christ does not endorse, identifying themselves with the Pharisees
and scribes who sat in Moses’ seat blocking the way to the kingdom of heaven
from those who sought it. When Yahshua’s sheep are cast out of the churches,
He goes with THEM. For this reason above all, not doctrinal differences, I
choose to identify with the scattered outcasts of the churches. The fact that
tares are gathered together first for the post-harvest bonfire doesn’t trouble
me. The scattered wheat will become a glorious harvest in due time.
Yahshua has no part with those who reject even the least of His sheep (amongst
whom are the greatest), so neither do I. When He leaves the churches, I do too,
preferring the spiritual bond of Christ amongst His people, scattered though
they be at this time. His true sheep follow Him, even if that means leaving the
99 for the sake of the 1. Yahshua knows His own sheep, and He knows the wolves
who seek to devour them.
Thus, to dub me as one of the ‘Jesus is not God’ people is simply to affirm
the mainstream churches’ rejection of me for choosing Christ over the churches
when their actions offend Christ. It is in effect to affirm one’s allegiance
to not only the institutions of mainstream Christianity, but their most vile
practices. The deity of Christ doctrine is just one of many excuses people use
to promote Satan’s divisive works against the people of God; a shallow and
false view of the proverbial question, ‘who’s my brother?’ My brethren are
not those who seek to rob and beat me. Neither are they the ones who walk on by
when they see I have a need, no matter what their religious credentials or
affiliation.
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