This lesser known story from church history is helpful on a number of levels. It reminds us that Christians should watch their tone (Eph. 4:15) and be careful how they disagree with other believers during intramural debates. Today's church history lesson goes as such. Two delegations were divided among themselves on intricate details related to particular redemption. Quoting Dr. Lee Gatis, "Those from Britain and Bremen gave minority reports to the Synod, and aroused some very strong passions. The British delegation HAD TO WRITE HOME FOR HELP RECONCILING THEIR INTERNAL DIVISIONS, but John Davenant claimed he would rather have his right hand cut off than change his mind, so some compromise was inevitable. When Matthias Martinius from Bremen delicately expressed some of his more Arminianizing opinions on this subject Franciscus Gomarus was so incensed that he threw down the gauntlet and challenged him to a duel! The Synod president tried to calm things down, but after prayers Gomarus renewed his request for combat. The two would fight again (verbally) in the Synod, in AN UNDIGNIFIED MANNER which did not impress the other (Christian) foreign delegates, and though others in the Bremen delegation did not agree with Martinius, they nearly left because of this incivility." What we say, how we say what we believe, and how we disagree with fellow believers during intramural debates is important.
Concerning the popular saying in Essentials Unity, In Non-Essentials Liberty, In All Things Charity Ligonier Ministries author Mark Ross writes, The saying of Rupertus Meldenius strikes the right balance. It calls for unity on the essential things, the core of truth in our union with Christ. In non-essentials (not the unimportant, but those things that if lacking do not prevent our union with Christ), it calls for liberty so that all might follow their consciences under the Word and Spirit. In all things, however, there must be love (“charity” from the Latin caritas, or “love”), “which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Col. 3:14).
Concerning the popular saying in Essentials Unity, In Non-Essentials Liberty, In All Things Charity Ligonier Ministries author Mark Ross writes, The saying of Rupertus Meldenius strikes the right balance. It calls for unity on the essential things, the core of truth in our union with Christ. In non-essentials (not the unimportant, but those things that if lacking do not prevent our union with Christ), it calls for liberty so that all might follow their consciences under the Word and Spirit. In all things, however, there must be love (“charity” from the Latin caritas, or “love”), “which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Col. 3:14).
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God (Rom. 15:5–7).
The church history story that I quoted is from the book, From Heaven He Came and Sought Her: Definite Atonement in Historical, Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspective.
