Basis for Fellowship

"In essentials, Unity; in non-essentials, Liberty; in all things, Love."

1. Although we individually, or as a group, may believe and cherish certain doctrines, the basis of our fellowship is life in the Christ of the Scriptures rather than light on the teaching of the Scriptures. Those who have part with Christ have part with us. Because our communion is one of life and love more than one of doctrine and opinion, we seek to show that the oneness in the life of God through Jesus Christ is a stronger bond than that of being one of us—whether organizationally or denominationally.

2. Because our fellowship is based on our common life in Christ, we do not reject anyone because of the organization or denomination with which he may be affiliated; nor would we hold him responsible for the conduct within that system, any more than we would a child for the conduct in the home of which he is merely a part.

3. We do not feel it desirable to withdraw from fellowship with any Christians except at the point where they may require us to do what our consciences will not permit, or restrain us from doing what our consciences require. Even then, we maintain our fellowship with them in any matter where we are not called upon to so compromise. This ensures that (inasfar as we understand the Scripture) we do not separate ourselves from them any further than they separate themselves from Christ.

4. We do not consider an act of fellowship to be indicative of total agreement; indeed, we sometimes find it a needed expression of love to submit to others in matters where we do not fully agree, rather than to prevent some greater good from being brought about. Our choice would be to bear with their wrong rather than separate ourselves from their good.

5. We believe it more scriptural to reflect a heart of love ready to find a covering for faults, than to constantly look for that with which we may disagree. We will then be known more by what we witness for than by what we witness against.

6. We feel it biblical never to pressure people to act in uniformity further than they feel in uniformity; we use our fellowship in the Spirit as an opportunity to discuss our differences and find this to be the most effective way of leading others—or being led by them—into the light of the Word.

7. While enjoying such a wide range of Christian fellowship, we would not force this liberty upon those who would feel otherwise minded. In such circumstances, we enjoy fellowship as far as they will permit, then pray that the Lord would lead them further into this true liberty of the common life in Christ.

Therefore, we strive to promote faith in God, unity of the Spirit among believers, love and understanding among all people. We pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart (2 Tim. 2:22). We seek to walk worthy of the calling with which we were called, with all lowliness and humility, and with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:1-3).

Note: These principles of Christian fellowship are based on the research and experience of Keith A. Price. He wrote: "These principles are based on many years of inter-denominational fellowship and are conclusions I have reached after making many mistakes and after having had considerable discussion with scores of Christian leaders."

Additional Notes on Christian Fellowship

"We believe that a calm and child-like trust in God, a steadfast confidence in the undeviating rectitude of all His ways, and an unwavering belief in that unalterable and eternal love of the Father, which embraces all created intelligences, constitute the highest powers and graces of the Christian character. And these can proceed only from an abiding and deep conviction that God is, and that He reigns in supreme and unmingled goodness over all the affairs of the universe that He has made." (Rev. I. D. Williamson, D.D. — 1874)

"Dogmatic adherence to a particular creed or confession as the basis for unity will produce unity only for the adherents to that particular system... We suffer from what I call the 'legacy of orthodoxy,' the idea that one must submit to a particular set of dogmatically proclaimed orthodox beliefs to be a Christian..." (Daniel Andersen, Be Likeminded, p. 4)

The Problem with Creeds: All Creeds contain some truth and some error. If a Creed teaches more than the Bible on any given subject, it teaches too much. If it teaches less than the Bible teaches, it teaches too little. If it contains what the Bible teaches, WHY THE CREED?

"Doctrine is not the divine basis of fellowship. That is life and conduct. Those in Corinth who held fundamental error, denying the resurrection, were not excluded (1 Cor. 15:12). But the morally unclean person was expelled (1 Cor. 5)." (A.E. Knoch, Eternal Torment or Universal Reconciliation, p. 50)

Historical Perspective on Orthodoxy

"Scholars of Church History have indicated that the concept of orthodoxy was introduced into Christendom, not in the 1st Century, but early in the 4th Century, under the leadership of the Roman emperor Constantine... To be orthodox was to be safe... Healthy enquiry was displaced by an unhealthy fear."

"Fellowship and membership are based upon doctrines which have to be subscribed to, rather than upon an attitude of heart and mind in a quest for truth." (Daniel Andersen, Bible Study - A personal quest)

"It is a tragedy that Christians unite on doctrinal or creedal bases when there can be no absolute certainty about them. The basis for fellowship ought rather to be in the realm of love, commitment, and trust than in systematized doctrines, codified beliefs and intellectual thought..." (Daniel Andersen, Bible Study - A personal quest, p. 22)

"Believing mankind to be fallible creatures, we therefore feel a spirit of toleration and union for all those Christians who maintain the divinity of the Bible, and walk humbly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord Jesus Christ..." (Barton W. Stone, An Address to the Churches, 1821)

"Error in points of doctrine is not a ground for regarding any one with unkindness... God looks not with the eyes or understanding, but at the heart, and where this is right with him, he rejects no one for his mistakes in opinion." (Rev. S. Noble, Important Doctrines of the True Christian Religion, 1848)

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