Richard Baxter (1615 – 1691) was an English Puritan church leader. The following statement of his is one I appreciate:
In necessary things, unity; in doubtful things, liberty; in all things, charity.
This is an appropriate warning to those church leaders who think they can *strong-arm* Christians into their point of view, supposedly to bring about *revival* and greater *faithfulness* in the Church. These leaders demand agreement with everything they teach or decree. There is no room for growth in grace in those under their oversight. There is a demand for Unity in All Things Taught By Them. Such men would do well to give heed to the following Bible verses:
The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight [thereof], not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
Neither as being lords over [God’s] heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. – I Peter 5:1 – 3