Right off the bat I am going to tell you that I am a Christian. Yes, I am human, and yes, I have made mistakes.
But I am a Christian nonetheless.
So with that I must now say that this post is directed more towards Christians....or people who like to call themselves Christians.
Where did denominations really begin? And why? Does this not almost defeat the purpose of Christianity? Christians, I thought, are supposed to be a unified body of believers, whose ultimate belief was based strictly on the Bible...not the rules of a denomination.
I thought the Church was supposed to be a unified body of believers...not one denomination over here and another over there. I thought Christians were called to love, and, by doing so, settling any disputes or arguements in a loving fashion. Not by splitting the Church apart and despising your brothers and sisters in Christ for the rest of your days.
I thought Christians were supposed to be different from the world. I thought Christians were supposed to be a light. I didn't know that Christianity was meant to fight with each other like the world, hate each other like the world, and ultimately split from each other like the world...
I guess I missed it when God sent that memo out.
Denominations, to me, seem to be another feeble attempt that man has made to try to draw himself closer to God without having to work for it. People seem to think, "If I go to the right place and act the right way then I will be close to God."
Not at all.
However, if you are saved and have a passion for God and His word then you will be drawn closer to God, but trust me it will not be because of anything you did on your own. The only reason you wouold be allowed to be drawn closer to God is because God wants you to be.
Now don't misunderstand me here, I am not saying that opinions don't differ. I am not saying denominations should be stopped (although I would like to see how that would be, assuming everyone showed Christ's love like they were called to do of course). I am simply saying that the fighting amongst denominations must stop.
I mean, only mankind could take something as precious as God's Holy Word, and make it a warzone. Only mankind can pick and choose what they want to hear and do and make their own denomination out of it.
Only mankind can contradict the Bible in the name of God.
Please understand. I just want the Church to be what God called it to be. A unified body of believers. Not a bunch of worldy wannabe hypocrites.
Hopefully you understand what I am saying. The Church is in deep trouble. The world is ending around us and all we can do is fight about what color the carpet is going to be, or wether or not this or that is meant by a certain verse. Yes, some things may be important, but is it really so important that you can't do God's work?
Just think about it.
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches,but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” - Jeremiah 9:23-24
2009 The Mind of Me - Powered by
Blogger
Blogger Templates by Deluxe Templates
Wordpress theme by Dirty Blue
Blogger Templates by Deluxe Templates
Wordpress theme by Dirty Blue
4 comments:
The matter of division within the body of Christ has many different aspects to it. When it comes to dividing over carpet color, we have to graciously suggest to those dividing over such things that they may wish to examine themselves to see if indeed they are in the faith. The body of Christ must not divide over such things, though such things may divide the wheat from the chaff.
That's the issue - that which calls itself the church is made of of the true Church and a lot of chaff as well. See this.
As for other things, there are separate denominations that worship certain ways - not a means of division, but rather one of certain preferences while staying within the revealed will of God. There are those who believe differently about certain "disputable matters" which need not divide the body as a whole, while still uniting together in stalward defense of the noncompromisable truths of genuine, biblical, orthodox Christianity and still able to come together and work together as brothers. Not all disputes can be settled, because in this day and age most of what calls itself "evangelical" has actually moved far from the biblical Gospel and is more and more apostate. So there will actually be increased division in what calls itself the Body of Christ as the wheat and chaff begin to separate more and more, but not within the true Body of Christ herself. As Christ Himself said in Matthew 10:34-38,
Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
There will be division between the true church and the world, including the part of the world that calls itself "Christian" but which is devoid of the actual life of Christ.
(cont)
(cont)
John 17 gives us the wonderful gift of reading the High Priestly Prayer by Christ Himself - a beautiful moment between Father and Son, which I cannot highly enough recommend for good study - it's overwhelmingly beautiful.
Washer mentions that prayer in his discussion of the unity of the true Church in Ten Indictments. I gave you a copy of Washer's Ten Indictments. You watched it yet? Here's a clip addressing your concern. The misunderstanding of what comprises the Church is one of the ten indictments, and he makes the point that the true Church is NOT divided, she's just scattered among the nations right now, but she is One in the Spirit and as a result, she lives for the glory of God, not for the glory of Self. I can attest to that truth, I've seen and experienced it for myself.
But remember, in Ezekiel 36 God says, "It is not for your sake that I am about to act, but for the sake of My holy Name which you have profaned among the nations where you went." How did they profane the name of God? Not just verbally, but by carrying His name while acting like the world. And how is it that He reclaims His name and proves Himself holy through them so that all the nations will know that He is the Lord?
See the rest of the chapter. It's a description of the New Birth. This great and wonderful God that we have reclaims His Holy Name which His people have profaned - by redeeming them, buying a people for Himself with His own blood, filling us with His life and His heart and His Spirit and a fear of Him so that we will not turn away from Him, but will follow and love Him and in the process, will love each other, all those who are also born of Him.
What a wonderful Creator, Redeemer, and King we have! May you be filled with a zeal for His house, His glory, and His people. There can be nothing better for a man or woman to give his/her life for than the Bride that Christ bought with His blood.
One more really good sermon, one from an old dead guy named Paris Reidhead, entitled, If You Agree and I think it speaks to your concern here too. Convicting.
You raise a very good point, Heath. I do have to say that I agree with your mother's comments. She helped clear up a few of my misconceptions on that issue.
I think we all (as Christians) struggle with the issue of so many separations among believers, but the main issue is, as your mother has pointed out, most of it is the separating of the wheat from the chaff. There are so many within the church who claim the name of Christ yet don't even realize that they are not saved and have no right to claim His precious name.
And we (Christians) look around and become discouraged at all that is going on within the church. I myself am facing a similar struggle, watching people who call themselves Christian acting like anything but a Christian. It tends to get very depressing! But this is when Jesus gently reminds me that my eyes need not be fixed on what's around me, but rather, on Him.
Thanks for sharing, Heath. And keep on keeping on for Jesus!
Here's another good viewpoint from one in a leadership position:
http://www.irishcalvinist.com/?p=212
Excerpt:
2. Christian unity is not an end in and of itself (V.27d)
It is not just that we are united for unity’s sake, but when you read the passage, the emphasis is not upon just getting together and not arguing, but rather, the emphasis is upon being united for the furtherance of the gospel!
If we find ourselves focusing on unity as the main objective and end then we find ourselves in the marginalization of the cross of Jesus. The unity that God demands here is unity that huddles around the cross only to promote and defend the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Unity that is not centered upon the cross will promote passivity in ministry. Disengaged passivity promotes grumbling and discontentment, which will bring about division! There is something about being so fixed upon the cross and its promotion that tends to drown out the rivaling agendas who would compete with the gospel.
Should read the whole thing. It's not that long, good re-focus there.
Post a Comment