Does it matter? Does it matter what we know of truth? Some say that as long as we know that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died for our sins, that we are following after Him with all our hearts, that that is enough, and everything else is just cause for unnecessary division. Certainly, I have seen division in the church over silly matters, and I have heard stories of churches splitting over carpet color, but should we shy away from truth to avoid division? Is all division necessarily wrong in the church? Is how we worship an unnecessary truth?
Matthew 25:33 talks of separating the sheep from goats. Yes, this refers to separating the believers from the unbelievers at judgment. Jeremiah 24 talks of two baskets of figs - one basketful so rotten they couldn't be eaten. Then in Revelation in the letters to the seven churches, many of them refer to a distinction made even among the people within these churches. In Thyatira, there were those who were misled by Jezebel and there were those who kept to the truth. There was a distinction and God judged between them.
Certainly, I am not anyone's judge. I cannot and will not condemn anyone for celebrating Christmas or Easter or for choosing Saturday or Sunday worship. I won't judge for matters like this. For one reason, I myself was walking in ignorance for 35 years. I just followed those who went before me, the ways of the churches I attended, my family traditions, church traditions and so on, without ever questioning much. It took me 35 years and God has led me to the understanding I have now. I don't avoid friends or my church leaders because we don't agree on holidays. However, I also feel a responsibility to live righteously in the way that God has led me, in the truth God has revealed to me.
Will I share why I believe what I believe? Yes, absolutely. Will I condemn those who don't follow me? Heck no! Nobody should be following me anyway! Please please, follow Jesus! I do feel a responsibility to share my reasons for my beliefs, but beyond that, I have no control, and no judgment for how a person responds to that information.
So, is this truth causing division in the church in an inappropriate way? I don't think so. We are called to come out of the world. By choosing to worship in the ways God has commanded in His word, I am certainly drawing a line for me and my family in division from the ways of the world. Yet, I love my church brothers and sisters and have no need to divide the church over this matter. I'll leave that division to Jesus as He sees fit.
