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Trust the Denomination
By daniel | September 20, 2005
We've been discussing, of late, whether denominational names are helpful — in fact, if denominations themselves are helpful.
This is a difficult discussion, made only more difficult by my wrong answers (that I know are wrong.) It seems to me that I really enjoy having our denominational label, because I don't have to think about these 'core' beliefs — they're spelled out by whatever our particular denomination manifesto tells us to believe. I don't need to consider other options (including the Bible itself) about communion, baptism, the tribulation, rapture, worship styles, ministry, or church governance, because they're all spelled out, keeping away people who would seek to draw us away from the truth into following something other than Jesus.
But this keeps us from not only heretics, but other brothers and sisters who should really be in fellowship with us, and us with them. This division is clearly not the heart of our Lord. And in fact, the more I explore this, I know that our unity with the saints is much more important to Jesus than whether my brother believes in transsubstantiation or consubstantiation instead of memorialism. Far more important.
I'm also finding that having never had to live life together with brothers or sisters who hold different beliefs, I've never had to trust the Spirit to lead us. This introduces some crazy thoughts, like what if the entire church in our city were one, and the consensus through the elders of the church in our city, as led by the Spirit, was different than my tradition, or the practice that I thought was so important?
So I suppose my thoughts are a bit scattered, and that's ok. I know that Christ can lead us. I know that He can lead us, a diverse and very diverse church of God's children in this city. I also know that I must adopt a posture of valuing what He values. Reading the things he says, and also in reading what Paul says about these things, I do get the distinct impression that I shouldn't cease to fellowship with my brothers or sisters because or their worship style, etc.
(Understandably, thoughts about mercy and judgement in the church as concerning sin among the brethren is always applicable as well — I'm not really discussing brothers in sin here.)
This was sort of a ramble. Thanks for hanging in there with me. We're all in this together, as I don't know as of yet of a city with a unified church, important though it is to our King.
Topics: Church Life |
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