Chapters From Church History

The Auburn Affirmation 10: Unity at the Expense of Truth

By Dr. Paul M. Elliott
Liberals insist that precise definition of the Gospel is unhealthy for the church - and far too many self-described Evangelicals agree.

From the TeachingtheWord Bible Knowledgebase

Part ten of a series. Read part nine.

Liberals insist that precise definition of the Gospel is unhealthy for the church - and far too many self-described Evangelicals agree.

We now come to the last of the three deadly daggers of apostasy that the authors and signers of the Auburn Affirmation placed atop their pyramid of false principles to complete their attack on the sole authority of the Word of God. 

The Auburn liberals' final false principle was this: Unity is more important than truth - because there is no fixed truth, but rather many "theories" about the truth. Therefore, in the name of "liberty and unity" precise definition of the Gospel is unhealthy. Efforts to defend a single definition of Biblical truth that is based on sound principles of interpretation are schismatic. The Auburn liberals wrote:

Finally, we deplore the evidences of division in our beloved church, in the face of a world so desperately in need of a united testimony to the gospel of Christ. We earnestly desire fellowship with all who like us are disciples of Jesus Christ. We hope that those to whom this Affirmation comes will believe that it is not the declaration of a theological party, but rather a sincere appeal, based on the Scriptures and our standards, for the preservation of the unity and freedom of our church, for which most earnestly we plead and pray.[1]

We live in a time when the spiritual descendants of the writers and signers of the Auburn Affirmation are likewise championing unity at the expense of truth. The main reasons this is happening in the 21st century is political. A recent Washington Times article highlighted the fact that in the media today, whether liberal or conservative, "evangelical" has become a political term. "Evangelicals" are a voting bloc that politicians of all stripes appeal to - sometimes honestly, but more often dishonestly.[2]

Why has this happened? It is because many self-described "evangelicals" have followed their leaders in championing religious and political unity over Biblical truth, in order to promote political goals. A few years ago a massive "back to God" rally called "Restoring Honor" took place in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. The leading organizer was radio commentator Glenn Beck, a member of the cult of Mormonism. So-called conservative Protestant leaders stood alongside Mormon cultists, Roman Catholic priests, and even Muslim imams in an unholy alliance that is actually opposed to Christ, no matter how many times they may name His name.

They all said "America must return to God". But the crucial question left unanswered was: Whose God? Every group represented on that platform, and in so many other rallies and events held in our time, embraces a different god - and few are followers of the one true and living God. Such unholy religious-political alliances sacrifice the truth of Jesus' declaration - "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6) - on the altar of so-called "unity" to gain political advantage. God will not honor or bless those who claim to be Christ's followers but throw away the exclusive message of the Gospel when it inconveniences them.

We saw the same sacrifice of truth at the expense of so-called unity in the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation called Refo500. The Jesuits, who now for the first time in history have their man on the papal throne at the Vatican, were given a lead role in the celebration of the Reformation they have long opposed even to the point of shedding the blood of the martyrs. The Jesuits' opposition to the Gospel has not changed, but so-called evangelicals allowed them to co-opt the celebration for their evil purposes.

The one true Gospel is the dividing line between darkness and light, between truth and error, between Christ and Satan. Here is the test: Stand for the truth of the Gospel without compromise or apology, and see how quickly those who profess to seek "unity" but hate the Gospel will no longer pose as your friends but become vehement opponents. At such a time let us recall the example of the first Christians, in Acts. Luke tells us that when the opposition

had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. (Acts 5:40-42)

Authentic Christians must, no matter what, heed the exhortation and benediction that the Holy Spirit gave through Peter to the first century church as it faced the unholy alliances of its time:

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 5:8-11)    

References:

1. The full text of the Auburn Affirmation appears here.

Next: Conservatives' Ineffectual Response

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