We have largely refrained from commenting on the ongoing situation in the Free Church of Scotland. This for a number of reasons. Firstly, there is a great deal of ignorance about much of what is going on and has gone on, on our part. Then, with a magazine aimed chiefly at Calvinistic Baptists in England news of Scots Presbyterianism is low on our list of priorities. However, when the recent split in the Free Church merits mention on BBC Radio 2 news, it would be foolish of us to pretend that this is not happening or that it has nothing to do with us or to say, as the cliché goes, ‘It couldn’t happen here’.
Continuing
It is a well known fact that much of the current debate within and without the Free Church of Scotland has centred partly on Professor Donald MacCleod and various accusations that have been made against him. Inevitably, however, there are other issues, and, although it is no doubt rather uneven, the current split (around 30 ministers have left the denomination) is largely between the more conservative and the less conservative. The latter continue as The Free Church of Scotland, the former as The Free Church of Scotland (Continuing).
Obviously, most of our readers are not Presbyterian but belong to local independent churches. The level of independency in such churches means that although an individual church or churches may choose to sever a connection with another church or churches the idea of forming The Association of Grace Baptist Churches (Continuing) or meeting for the Grace Baptist Assembly (Continuing) is hardly thinkable. Having said that, it would be very naïve to suppose that such a situation could not exist nevertheless de facto. Although there are few personalities around which to group ourselves, there are definitely differences among Calvinistic Baptist churches over many issues. Merely glance through the magazine directory of churches and see the variety of hymn books in use and you will see what I mean. A visit to some of the churches would further illustrate this.
Issues
What are the issues that tend to divide us? A number come to mind. There is the matter of versions of the Bible, for instance. While some believe the NIV to be the ‘Nearly infallible version’ others are convinced that if the King James Version was good enough for Paul then it is good enough for believers today. I mentioned hymn books a moment ago. There is a broad spectrum – all the way from a capella exclusive psalmody through Gadsby’s, Grace Hymns, Christian Hymns, Mission Praise and on to The Source backed by a choir with a beat combo and horns. The cessation of the charismatic gifts is another issue that often divides along with attitudes to revival and spiritual experience. In the area of evangelism we divide over both doctrinal and practical matters. The matter of separation, ecumenism and church discipline is another thorny area where there are disagreements.
Now my point in raising this issue is not to highlight division or to promote it in any way but simply to say that we can surely learn a lesson from what has happened in Scotland. All too quickly opinion there has polarised and this has led to the current split. Things are different here but let us not suppose that we are immune to the temptation to pull away in the direction we see best either within or without the various organisations that represent the Grace constituency or parts of it. Those who are more conservative are tempted to steer clear of their more liberal brothers because of the harm they believe they are doing to the cause of Christ. The less conservative are genuinely concerned about the future and the harm they believe the more conservative are doing, quenching the spirit of young people and hampering evangelism. Very often such concerns are ill-founded but they are nevertheless real concerns.
Most of us do not occupy extreme positions but are in the middle somewhere. We are glad to hear some notes being sounded but much more unimpressed with others. Now, obviously we need to come to firm convictions on a whole range of issues. However, we must have some perspective on these things. If you say ‘I will not go to a meeting where they sing Graham Kendrick hymns’ or ‘I will never attend a church where the Authorised Version is the main version’ surely you are being divisive. We deplore both wishy-washiness and mere traditionalism certainly but surely we cannot work on the basis that we will never have fellowship with anyone who disagrees with us on issues that do not deny the heart of the gospel.
Suggestions
So what can we do to foster fellowship with one another? I may be mad to try but here are some obvious suggestions.
1. Seek a better understanding of the positions held by those with whom you disagree. It is easy to mock or to parody a position but often the mockery betrays a fundamental lack of understanding. I have met very few people who understand and sympathise with those who want to retain the Authorised Version. Nevertheless they are quick not only to reject but also to ridicule the position. Now in some cases that ridicule may be deserved but certainly not in all.
2. Be clear in your mind where it is worth taking a stand and where not. If at a gathering of believers a Graham Kendrick song is sung – does that mean we can have nothing to do with it? Or, put another way – would it hurt so much if we did not sing it? The danger of Pharisaically straining out gnats while swallowing whole camels is a danger for us all.
3. There will always be strong believers, weak believers and Pharisees. Strong believers are not a problem although they ought to be treated with respect. We must not give in to Pharisees, of course, but we must take great care over weak believers. You know that having an Anglican or a Charismatic to speak will not be a problem for the mature believer but what about the weak believer? Is your freedom, you radicalism, going to be a stumbling block to others?
4. Let’s emphasise the areas where we do agree. If we are Calvinistic Baptists then it is not only the gospel but Reformed theology and Baptist church principles too that unite us. There is a lot more uniting us than dividing us. Let’s accentuate the positive not the negative. It is a sad fact that the issues that unite us often get so little attention.
5. Don’t get on a high horse about something written here that unintentionally offends you! I have often observed that the subject most likely to divide a discussion group is Christian unity. My intention has not been to score points but to plead for greater unity.
This article first appeared in Grace Magazine in 2004
