Getting along....
I've spent a few days reading and thinking about the Sovereign Grace annotation to their basis of faith. You can read the basis of faith here. The annotation (available here, well worth the time) describes the context and rationale for changing the statement's paragraph on the Holy Spirit - downclassing it from a classic pentecostal one to a more broad emphasis. As such I think it is extremely well written and allows for differing views on which, to the Sovereign Grace team, is a secondary matter. It's a good way to spend half an hour, particularly because the annotation is written by Jeff Purswell, who, whilst a continuationist (i.e. not a cessationist) does not believe in a second blessing; something that he acknowledges is a minority view within Sovereign Grace.
- it shows, practically, how differing views on secondary matters can be accommodated and practically worked out in the local church;
- it also recognises that there are some secondary matters which should not prevent churches working together but which nonetheless cannot be accommodated so easily, if at all. The annotation identifies the movement's position on the continuation of gifts as a necessary part of church life and honestly points out that if you don't agree with that position, it's going to be very hard for you and the church.
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