Unity in Diversity, pt. 2

Sometimes we have to cut off our fellowship with a Christian. Sometimes it's over a doctrine, as when John the gospel writer left the bath house because some Gnostic was in there, and sometimes it's over behaviour (cf. 1 Cor 5.1-2). Other times, we don't have to cut off fellowship. If Joe is a vegan, so be it. Let him be a vegan. If Susie dyes her hair, great! I like it, Susie. I've already said that Paul says we can have unity when we have differences, as long as the differences are about things indifferent. Let's call these peripheral issues. When defining what are peripheral issues, we can get clarity by defining the center, and in the New Testament, we get a clear picture of what is central. What is central is that

Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles,unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God which is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed (1 Cor 15.3-11)

Now, Paul says that these things are of first importance: Christ died for our sins; rose from the dead; and revealed himself to many brethren. In fact, if he hasn't risen from the dead, then we are still in our sins and our faith is vain (vs. 17). Similarly, in the first chapter of Acts, Luke recounts the story of Jesus's death and resurrection, and how he revealed himself to his disciples. This paraphrase is reminiscent of how Old Testament writers paraphrase the essence of older Old Testament stories. Paul also said his task was to preach Christ crucified (1 Cor 1.17), and that through believing that Christ died for our sin's God makes Christ our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption (vs. 30). This is the central doctrine and story which we have to believe. Of course, in scripture, many things follow from this, and we will believe those things as well. But this story (that Christ died and rose from the dead and showed himself to his disciples) and the meaning of this story (that he died for our sins) is the source of our unity.