"Something Other Than the Gospel"

While every denomination, sect, group and subgroup is busy witnessing to its distinctive truth, the glorious gospel becomes a poor Cinderella in the Christian family. No wonder the gospel is the most ignored and misunderstood doctrine in the community! Yet only the gospel can make a Christian person and create a Christian church. What sect has made the gospel its distinctive witness? Any sect doing this would not be a sect in the true sense of the word because it would not have the sectarian spirit. Would it not be refreshing to have a new "sect" in the church which unashamedly confessed, "Our heresy is the gospel"?

The sectarian spirit may not only subordinate the gospel to its pet doctrine (at which point it becomes a heresy), but it may preach its distinctive doctrine as the gospel. Thus, an emphasis on holiness of life and the work of the Holy Spirit in Christian experience has encouraged the development of new Christian movements. Who would question the importance of holiness and the indwelling of the Spirit? Insofar as these movements have drawn attention to neglected biblical truths, they have performed a prophetic ministry to the church. But when a fellowship is based on something other than the gospel, that "something" is in serious danger of becoming another gospel. We need to remember that the ultimate deception occurs when a very good thing is put in the room of the best thing.

Robert D. Brinsmead, "The Gospel versus the Sectarian Spirit," Verdict, March 1981, p. 14.