Let us try to uncover the Scriptural extent to which we are to "accept" one another. First of all, if our reason for rejecting brethren does not fall under one of the Scriptural grounds, it is not legitimate and we are in violation of Romans 15;7. But, it goes deeper than that. The, "as Christ accepted you", aspect goes much deeper, and compels us to consider the extent to which He accepted us. Were we flawed in any way when He accepted us? Did He insist on our understanding of every Bible principle? In fact, isn't it true that it was on very flimsy grounds that He accepted us? How, then, do we explain our rigid codes of acceptance? How, then, do we explain our flagrant rejection of sincere brethren who do not see eye to eye with us on every issue that Satan and divisive brethren have invented. Let us consider the Bible test for acceptance.

In 1' John 4:2-3 we read, "Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ came in the flesh is of God". If we must subject our brethren to a test, shouldn't this Spirit revealed test be enough to satisfy us? The Pharisees had there own exclusive tests and Jesus accused them of "teaching for doctrine the commandments of men".Are we not as guilty when we reject sincere brethren who do not conform to our expectations relative to a myriad of issues which have nothing at all to do with salvation by grace through faith? Cecil Hook, in his book, FREE IN CHRIST, listed one hundred non-essential issues over which brethren choose to reject one another. This is a shame. This is not to the glory of God. Our tendency is to elevate our conclusions, however far removed they are from the facts of the Gospel, to Gospel status. Then it is convenient to reject any and all who disagree with us on the grounds that they have rejected the Gospel. This is arrogance and smacks of a haughty spirit, and God hates them both. When will we ever learn?

I do not mean to imply that accepting one another is an easy task. When Paul, by the Spirit, wrote, "FORBEAR one another, forgiving one another, if any man hath a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye." Colossians 3:13. , he must have known that it would not be easy for the word, "forbear", ("put up with" in the SEV) implies that effort would be required. The same principle is presented in Ephesians 4:2, but the pride bound ego of man rebels. The flesh does not welcome the idea of exercising effort, especially when it comes to putting up with someone who dares to disagree with our own precious conclusions. As a matter of fact, the tenor of the entire New Testament is love and brotherly acceptance, not scrutiny and rejection. Many so-called, "conservative", preachers are teaching a gospel of rejection, which is no Gospel. The New Testament is a message of brotherly love and acceptance, yet divisive men are putting it forth as a standard for rejection. One would think that you could open the Book to almost any place and find directions to reject one another, but this is simply not true. The overwhelming thrust of it is to, "accept", "put up with", and "endure one another in love".

It is recorded in Mark 9:40 that Jesus said, "For he that is not against us is for us". We should consider this point before we decide to exclude sincere brethren who do not agree with us on such minor issues as cups, instruments, and/or institutional aids. Some of us, in the past, had it just backwards. If they were not "for us" they were against us. Did our Lord institute the Lord's Supper for us to argue and fight over, or was it for a much higher and nobler purpose? Is the issue of fermented juice more important than the remembering of Jesus, or the discerning of His Body? Carl Ketcherside wrote that, "in the final judgement I would much rather be found guilty of accepting one whom the Lord had rejected than to be found guilty of rejecting one whom the Lord had accepted". Give it some thought!

A lost world is starving for lack of the Bread of Life while we argue and fight over such infinitesimal issues as whether or not the juice should be served in one, two, or many cups, or whether it should be served in cups with handles. The lost world is dying of thirst for lack of the Living Water, while we fight over who should be allowed to attend the business meeting of the church.

By the tender mercies of Jesus, I call on us all to value our brethren more than we value our conclusions, to subdue our pride bound egos, to put down self, and to put on the mind of Christ as we "accept one another, as Christ accepted us, to the glory of God". Let us ENDEAVOR to love our fellowman as ourselves and in so doing, love God supremely. Please consider these thoughts. I believe them to be in keeping with the Word.