"Truth Before Friendship"

The title of this blog has gained traction in Reformed circles since the days of Machen. It is meant to connote an unwavering commitment to truth, even when it hurts. This sentiment is alive and well today. The "Split P's" phenomenon of dividing (both formally and informally) over almost anything has become a standard characteristic of American Presbyterianism in particular, and the Reformed movement generally. John Frame has often said that the conservative Reformed movement in America has too often been filled by what he calls "Machen's Warrior Children". By this, he is referring to the spiritual descendents of Machen who took Machen's battles against liberal theology and turned that mentality toward fellow conservatives. The result has been faction after faction among people who consider themselves Reformed and evangelicals.

So am I saying that the "truth before friendship" mentality should be done away with because it is the enemy of unity? No. Scripture is clear that there are regretable instances in which we must defend the truth even if the cost is breaking fellowship (1 Cor 11, 2 John 10, etc). Clearly, the truth can't be sacrificed on the altar of maintaining a false unity that's not based on normative standards of belief. The current state of the mainline denominations sadly demonstrate that using constantly shifting abstract human ideas about what constitutes unity as the basis for trying to build a lasting tangible unity is a fool's errand. But does that mean that "friendship" and fellowship are commodities that are as expendable as toothbrushes? No.

Perennial issues like the role of women in formal vocational ministry, the 'worship wars', and the millennial debate have more recently been joined by other divisive issues such as the NPP and 'subscription' debates in Reformed circles. And let's be clear - the "warrior children" of Machen are on both sides of each one of these issues. Different faithful Christians will come down differently on all of these issues, and determining where lines of division need to be drawn is something that must be constantly reevaluated. But Scripture is not silent on the principles and values that need to be employed in our dealings with other Christians, and these principles have been dangerously compromised by the "truth before friendship" mentality in ways that I increasingly believe are unfaithful to the whole counsel of God.

Among the biblical principles we need to operate with in handling potentially divisive issues:

1) Gentleness. Scripture regularly cites 'gentleness' as a virtue and something we should cultivate (2Cor 10.1, Gal 5.23, Php 4.5, Col 3.12, 1Ti 6.11, 1P 3.15, 1Th 2.7, 2T 2.24, Tit 3.2, Jas 3.17). Gentleness is not an afterthought in the NT, but is something that multiple NT authors implored the early church to emphasize.

2) Avoiding a contentious spirit. Again, Scripture regularly instructs us to beware of harboring an itch to fight and create dissension (Prov 13:10, 18:6, 26:21, Hab 1:3, 1 Cor 1:11, 11:16, Tit 3:9, Jas 4.2). 1Tim 6.4 is particularly vivid in describing how a yearning for quarreling negatively impacts the correct ascertaining of truth. While few of us are eager to admit that we enjoy and even seek out conflict because we like to argue and debate, the fact is, way too many of us are guilty of it and just aren't honest enough to admit it and deal with it.

3) Guarding our tongues. James in particular strongly denounces division through words (1.19, 1.26, 2.12, 3.5-8, 4.1, 4.11, 5.6). But as Acts 20.32 says, the word of grace given to us by Christ can build up the church in sanctification.

4) Be peace-loving. Everybody wants peace, but nobody wants to do what's necessary to obtain it. But the fact remains, Mt 5.9 and James 3 commend peacemakers because they are an extension of the Prince of Peace.

Again, none of this is intended to minimize the absolute necessity of loving truth and being committed to the truth that Christ died for. There are indeed times when divisions are unfortunately necessary when truth is being heavily compromised or tossed aside altogether and replaced with cultural categories of acceptability. What we have to avoid is a deminimus view of truth that narrows truth to a few preferred theological propositions and correct definitions of technical terms, while failing to see that truth also encompasses practical behavior and ethics toward others (3 John). Eph 4.15 says that we need to 'speak the truth in love'. As Frame has said, "We must not speak the truth without thinking of the effect of our formulations on our fellow Christians, even our opponents." This, I fear, has gotten lost in our desire to be right and in the faulty pursuit of a negative theology of sanctification. As increasing numbers of respected Reformed voices have openly begun airing great concerns about the way we're treating each other, those of us who credit Machen with helping us to solidify our Reformed categories need to stick up for him now. Machen deserves a better legacy than having his "warrior children" rip the church to shreds.