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Resources - Meditations
August 2000
Trowel - Building
Distinctively Different
John Ter Horst
I enjoy watching the football. Not the football played with a round
ball. Some would suggest that soccer is the only real football game - a
game that requires exceptional skill. But how much skill does it take to
play with a round ball? After all, you can predict, almost with absolute
certainty, in which direction the ball is going to bounce. When it rolls
along the turf of a football ground, it is always going to roll true.
That makes passing the ball from one teammate to another relatively
simple. No, that is not my game. I enjoy watching Aussie Rules football.
A game of true competence and dexterity! A game where allowances need to
be made for an egg-shaped ball! A game where the bounce is somewhat
predictable only after the umpire bounces it – and that is no mean feat.
A game where you score even when you do not kick the ball between the
two high poles! It is like receiving a score simply for trying. A rule
that encourages players to ‘have-a-go’ at scoring, and rewards them even
when they don’t get it exactly right!
What does at times irritate me about this wonderful game is the
umpiring. It seems the ‘rules’ of the game are open to a wide variety of
interpretation. Occasionally I see glaring inconsistencies in the
interpretation, and application of some ‘rules’. But I suppose that view
is not restricted to the umpiring of Aussie rules football alone. Crowds
of spectators during a variety of games, seem to reserve their most
spectacular outbursts for the men and women in white, the umpires.
Interpretation can be a complex exercise. It causes widespread debate
from the football field to the university... from the catechism class to
the theological college. It separates philosophical viewpoints, and
keeps denominations at a distance.
Even within denominations viewpoints can differ. The new Anglican
Primate of Australia has the theologians buzzing after going to print
with some of his views on historic Christianity. He maintains that
Christianity is but one way to God, but not the only way. Even within
Anglicanism these words have not gone unnoticed.
Within Reformed Churches we experience diversity also: diversity in
worship practices; diversity of emphasis on what the church ought to
have as its primary focal point. Yet within that diversity there is a
common distinctive. A Biblical distinctive that separates us from every
cult, sect, and some churches. That distinctive has five branches. That
distinctive is as follows. We believe that people are saved by grace
alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. We believe these
things because we uphold the teaching of the Bible alone, as the
inspired and infallible Word of God. We believe all Christians have
direct access to the Father through Jesus Christ alone. These five
pivotal points of doctrine are what distinguishes us. They are
distinctives not open to interpretation, variation or violation. These
five heads of theological belief separates Christians from every other
religious group. They define who we are. Amidst the diversity of some
practices, and points of emphasis, these five unite Christians under one
head, even Jesus Christ.
Being distinctive comes with a unique responsibility. It can lead to
pride and arrogance. Pride and arrogance however are not attitudes the
Bible endorses or commends. Rather we are to flee from those attitudes.
Salt is distinctively unique. It has the ability to enhance the flavour
of soups and casseroles. Many years ago now it was used as a
preservative. The unique responsibility that flows from our uniqueness
ought not to be hidden, buried or ignored. We should build on it. We
should share what we believe with those that are searching, or even
those who perceive they have no need for it. When we are ‘fair dinkum’,
about what we believe, we shall be under compulsion to speak it and live
it. As Paul wrote, “Yet when I preach the Gospel, I cannot boast, for I
am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel.”
[1Corinthians 9:16] With great gratitude Christians give thanks that God
has revealed Himself to them. They praise God for His salvation, full
and free. They take comfort from knowing that God is their Father in
Jesus Christ. May those distinctives allow us to be that savouring salt
in that part of the kingdom where God has placed us.
A Prayer: God our Father, may our distinctness be a constant
source of blessing. Amen.
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