Issue 1284 – Unity? – October 28, 2023
The Christian group is a strange hybrid of unity and incredible diversity. Typically, people think more of Christians being diverse than unified.
We divide along theological lines. Calvinists are different from Arminians, who differ from Lutherans, who differ from Pentecostals, who differ from Orthodox and so on, and so on.
We divide over racial and cultural lines. There are African-American denominations, Chinese churches, Ukrainian churches and more.
Sometimes, the two labels can divide further. There are Korean Presbyterians, North American Baptists and the Free Reformed Church of Moldova.
We can divide over second-order issues. Perhaps we believe (or don’t believe) in the presence of specific spiritual gifts today. We might ordain (or not ordain) women, or maybe we don’t believe in ordination at all. We encourage or disallow the use of musical instruments in worship or perhaps allow certain types of instruments.
There are liturgical and non-liturgical churches. Some major in theology, while others hold minimal regard for any doctrine.
There are very formal churches where everyone dresses up and churches where no one cares how you look.
We divide over Bible translations and musical styles or the type of building we worship in.
The simple truth is that there is very little that Christians have refused to divide over. Sometimes, the choice to divide is over a huge issue, such as the deity of Christ. Sometimes, it is something as trivial as the new carpet colour. The tendency towards division seems to be an inherent part of our fallen nature.
However, there is a place of incredible unity that we ignore at a significant cost. Despite all the various guises and permutations the Christian faith adopts, there is only ONE TRUE CHURCH.
There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call — one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:4-6
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13
From the days of the early church, the church has attempted to codify the essential aspects of the faith to define the form of that unity. The so-called Apostle’s Creed says…
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day, he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
We may differ from our brothers and sisters in Christ in essential and insignificant matters. Let us remember, though, that all true believers are united in the Spirit and will gather together with Jesus around the throne for eternity.
The Apostle Paul put it this way.
Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Philippians 1:15-18
May we be careful not to condemn others in the church and, like Paul, rejoice in the proclamation of the gospel and the unity of the Spirit.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
__________________________________________
Please like and share this post with friends and your circle of influence. Also, feel free to comment.
Did you know that we have an email version? It has the same great content but in a different format. Subscribe today https://mailchi.mp/f27bbeb09c22/gleanings-1
______________________________
All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2023 KF “Kevin” Corbin Gleanings From The Word.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
___________________________________________
#love #peace #hope #Gleanings #theWord #devotional #gospel#Christian #hope #encouragement #Biblestudy #faith #dailyBible #verseoftheday #grace #KevinCorbin #god #life #Jesus #father #son #HolySpirit #grace #mercy #hope #divisions #unity #denominations