As I have been reading through Wiersbe’s Your Next Miracle, I read this quote taken from a letter John Newton wrote to George Whitefield in 1757:
The longer I live, the more I see of the vanity and the sinfulness of our unchristian disputes; they eat up the very vitals of religion. . . . I allow that every branch of gospel truth is precious, that errors are abounding, and that it is our duty to bear an honest testimony to what the Lord has enabled us to find comfort in, and to instruct with meekness such as are willing to be instructed; but I cannot see it my duty, nay, I believe it would be my sin, to attempt to beat my notions into other people’s heads. . . . When our dear Lord questioned Peter, after his fall and recovery, he said not, Art thou wise, learned and eloquent? nay, he said not, Art thou clear and sound, and orthodox? But this only, “Lovest thou me?” An answer to this was sufficient then; why not now?
Amen, and amen. Maybe we should recirculate this letter through the SBC.
