Respect for Conscience
At Providence Church, we are committed to wholeheartedly defend those essentials of the faith, points of doctrine, and how the church meets for worship that are defined in Scripture. We identify many of these issues in our Church’s statement of faith. We will not compromise the authority of Scripture.
One of our church’s distinctives is our respect for conscience. Conscience is the God-given power of our minds to pass judgment on ourselves. Conscience has two elements – an awareness of certain things as right and wrong, and an ability to apply those laws to a specific situation. We have learned that we are to be gracious to one another and not to insist on agreement on nonessential or secondary issues. Equally conscientious Christians can arrive at different Biblical views on these issues which are not explicitly defined in Scripture. In our human nature, it can be difficult to walk away from arguments over differing interpretations of the Bible, and they can disrupt the harmony of the church. By contrast, how good it is when both sides agree to disagree, but to behave with grace and love toward each other, and not to break fellowship.
Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul dealt with such social and religious conflicts among the Roman Christians in chapter 14 of Romans. He instructs them to accept one another regardless of their differing conscientious views on some secondary issues. They had different views about what foods they could eat consistent with their faith and which days in the calendar had to be observed in special ways. Paul told those who felt bound to engage in certain conduct not to be self righteous or judgmental toward those who did not. But Paul also warned those who did not feel bound to engage in that conduct to avoid being contemptuous or dismissive of those who did. Romans 14:3,10.
They were each told to proslambano (accept, welcome, receive) those who conscientiously disagreed with them. They were to give one another the freedom to disagree with them on these secondary issues without breaking love and fellowship. He pointed out that those who disagree with us are not our servants. Their Master is Jesus who called them to His church. He chose them and He will make them stand. Rom. 14:4. We are all at different stages in the sanctification process, and he is able to bring each of us to Himself despite our perceived differences. Paul concludes, “Therefore accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us, to the glory of God.” Rom. 15:7.
For example, Christians agree on the necessity of baptism, but equally conscientious Christians read the instructions of the Bible differently on the timing and mode of baptism. This explains why Providence Church is dual confessional. Both the Westminster Confession and the London Baptist Confession of 1689 agree on the tenets of the Reformed Christian Faith, but they disagree on the timing of baptism. The Westminster affirms infant baptism. The London Baptist affirms believer baptism. Other doctrines on which many Christians differ based on their readings of Scripture are how they honor the Lord’s Day, their views of eschatology and prophesy, and views on head coverings.
Most recently, disagreement has arisen in Providence Church about the government directives regarding masking and vaccines. We agree that Scripture directs us to obey the lawful commands of the government. We agree that we have the freedom and possibly the necessity to disobey state commands that contradict God’s law. We do not agree, however, where the line should be drawn and the demands become unlawful. Regarding masking directives, the elders consequently adopted the following policy for our church: “We do not believe it is the State’s responsibility, nor the church’s responsibility, but rather the family’s responsibility under the head of household, to make primary decisions and take responsibility for the health of household members. Therefore, the wearing of masks should be left to the family members and their consciences. Please respect those who are wearing masks.” The elders also adopted a similar policy regarding the differing conscientious views of our congregants on vaccines. (Christian Liberty in Medical Treatment Decisions policy).
In John 13:34-35, Jesus instructs His disciples, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” We can behave with charity toward those with whom we disagree on nonessential issues, and maintain the unity of the body of Christ.
At Providence Church, we are committed to wholeheartedly defend those essentials of the faith, points of doctrine, and how the church meets for worship that are defined in Scripture. We identify many of these issues in our Church’s statement of faith. We will not compromise the authority of Scripture.
One of our church’s distinctives is our respect for conscience. Conscience is the God-given power of our minds to pass judgment on ourselves. Conscience has two elements – an awareness of certain things as right and wrong, and an ability to apply those laws to a specific situation. We have learned that we are to be gracious to one another and not to insist on agreement on nonessential or secondary issues. Equally conscientious Christians can arrive at different Biblical views on these issues which are not explicitly defined in Scripture. In our human nature, it can be difficult to walk away from arguments over differing interpretations of the Bible, and they can disrupt the harmony of the church. By contrast, how good it is when both sides agree to disagree, but to behave with grace and love toward each other, and not to break fellowship.
Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul dealt with such social and religious conflicts among the Roman Christians in chapter 14 of Romans. He instructs them to accept one another regardless of their differing conscientious views on some secondary issues. They had different views about what foods they could eat consistent with their faith and which days in the calendar had to be observed in special ways. Paul told those who felt bound to engage in certain conduct not to be self righteous or judgmental toward those who did not. But Paul also warned those who did not feel bound to engage in that conduct to avoid being contemptuous or dismissive of those who did. Romans 14:3,10.
They were each told to proslambano (accept, welcome, receive) those who conscientiously disagreed with them. They were to give one another the freedom to disagree with them on these secondary issues without breaking love and fellowship. He pointed out that those who disagree with us are not our servants. Their Master is Jesus who called them to His church. He chose them and He will make them stand. Rom. 14:4. We are all at different stages in the sanctification process, and he is able to bring each of us to Himself despite our perceived differences. Paul concludes, “Therefore accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us, to the glory of God.” Rom. 15:7.
For example, Christians agree on the necessity of baptism, but equally conscientious Christians read the instructions of the Bible differently on the timing and mode of baptism. This explains why Providence Church is dual confessional. Both the Westminster Confession and the London Baptist Confession of 1689 agree on the tenets of the Reformed Christian Faith, but they disagree on the timing of baptism. The Westminster affirms infant baptism. The London Baptist affirms believer baptism. Other doctrines on which many Christians differ based on their readings of Scripture are how they honor the Lord’s Day, their views of eschatology and prophesy, and views on head coverings.
Most recently, disagreement has arisen in Providence Church about the government directives regarding masking and vaccines. We agree that Scripture directs us to obey the lawful commands of the government. We agree that we have the freedom and possibly the necessity to disobey state commands that contradict God’s law. We do not agree, however, where the line should be drawn and the demands become unlawful. Regarding masking directives, the elders consequently adopted the following policy for our church: “We do not believe it is the State’s responsibility, nor the church’s responsibility, but rather the family’s responsibility under the head of household, to make primary decisions and take responsibility for the health of household members. Therefore, the wearing of masks should be left to the family members and their consciences. Please respect those who are wearing masks.” The elders also adopted a similar policy regarding the differing conscientious views of our congregants on vaccines. (Christian Liberty in Medical Treatment Decisions policy).
In John 13:34-35, Jesus instructs His disciples, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” We can behave with charity toward those with whom we disagree on nonessential issues, and maintain the unity of the body of Christ.
