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 The
Restoration Review, Nov. '79, carried an article "Who Is My
Brother" in which the writer jumped all over some unknown
writer for saying, "I do not consider... a brother."
The writer says, "brotherhood is determined by
Fatherhood!" He continues: "As such it really does not
amount to a 'hill of beans' in regard to whether or not I
'consider' someone to be my brother in Christ. What I 'consider'
about the person has nothing to do with his relation with God.
If God is that person's Father, then that person is my brother,
whether I 'consider' him to be such or not... Therefore, since
the answer to our question is that my brother in Christ is
anyone who has God as his Father, let us begin to acknowledge
and treat our brethren as just that — BRETHREN!"
A
noble appeal — that fails to tell us how he knows God is the
person's Father. He is so right in saying that "what I
'consider' about the person has nothing to do with his relation
with God." God knows those who are his (2 Tim. 2:19), but
that really isn't the problem is it? How does the writer
know who is His? Has he the insight and wisdom of God, or does
he "consider" in the light of his grasp of God’s
revealed will and his judgment of the life of the person??
If
we are sincerely striving to be faithful, trusting in Christ and
doing His bidding, it is
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comforting to know that God knows His
own and receives them, regardless of man's fallible judgment.
Party acceptance or rejection is not equivalent with the
approval or disapproval of God (3 Jn. 9-10; 1 Cor. 5:1-f.). But
it takes more than glib clichés to establish divine approval.
And man's judgment or "consideration" is always
involved in determining fellowship among men.
We
should desire and work toward wider brotherhood — anxious to
find all who show evidence of loving the Lord, and are studying,
praying and striving toward the mark. Recognizing that party
approval is not the standard (2 Cor. 10:12) should make us less
sectarian — more willing to hear another's "reason for
his hope." But we are still obligated to measure his faith
and practice by the "rule" that; extends to all.
We
have repeatedly said, and with reason, that a willingness to
study God's word together, on whatever specific-issues may
be dividing us, is the most practical measure of attitudes
toward unity and fellowship. We come nearer knowing God's
children by seeing their attitude toward His will than by
hearing unsubstantiated claim of love, or by subjective
feelings.
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