Today's Scripture Reading (July 23, 2021): Job 25 & 26
George Whitefield left England in 1739 to visit
America. When he left, he was the recognized leader of an evangelical awakening in his homeland. But, for the time that he was gone, he entrusted his
followers to John Wesley, a trusted friend in the Awakening. For the next two
years, Whitefield ministered in the New World. Never a man known for his
political correctness, he attacked other clergy in America, calling them "God's persecutors," and accusing both them and their leadership of knowing no
more about Christianity than Muhammad did, or any infidel for that matter.
And then Whitefield returned home. But his return
home was not a happy one. In his absence, John Wesley had been teaching against
predestination, something that Whitefield strongly supported. John Wesley also
had been pursuing the concept of Christian Perfection, the idea that sinlessness
was attainable in this life, which was a doctrine that Whitefield opposed. Soon
after Whitefield's
return to England in early 1741, he met with Charles and John Wesley, but the three could
not find any common ground. Whitefield wrote, "It would have melted any heart
to have heard Mr. Charles Wesley and me weeping, after prayer, that, if
possible, the breach might be prevented." But the movement had been
damaged and separated into two groups, the followers of John Wesley and the
followers of George Whitefield.
George
Whitefield passed away on September 30, 1770, at the age of 55. Whitefield had
been sick for a while, but he had often argued that he would rather "wear
out than rust out." John Wesley spoke at Whitefield's funeral, and as he
spoke, he downplayed the differences that had arisen between them almost three
decades earlier.
And, first, let us keep close to the
grand scriptural doctrines which he everywhere delivered. There are many
doctrines of a less essential nature, with regard to which even the sincere
children of God (such is the present weakness of human understanding) are and
have been divided for many ages. In these we may think and let think; we may
"agree to disagree." But, meantime, let us hold fast the essentials
of "the faith which was once delivered to the saints;" and which this
champion of God so strongly insisted on, at all times, and in all places!
One of the significant portions in
Wesley's speech is found in the phrase "we may think and let
think; we may 'agree to disagree.'" This might be the first time that the words
"agree to disagree" were used. But the concept has been known for a
much longer time. We don't agree on everything, and if we want to maintain
relationships with each other, there are issues where, as mature adults, we
simply "agree to disagree." Being willing to "agree to disagree"
is a reality in the contemporary church, especially if we want to show unity on
the critical issues and beliefs that we share.
This is the final speech of Job's friends. And the
privilege for giving the friends parting words to Job is given to Bildad the
Shuhite. In the English Version of the Bible, the final speech lasts only six
short verses. G. Campbell Morgan makes this observation. "The brevity of this speech of
Bildad is in itself suggestive, as it shows that even though Job has not
convinced these friends of his that their philosophy does not include his case,
he has succeeded in silencing them." Or maybe Job has convinced his friends
that, in this case, all they can do is 'agree to disagree.'
Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Job 27
No comments:
Post a Comment