Denominational walls are killing Gods church. Being in the mission field as a church evangelist, this fact becomes more and more evident every day. I have gotten such a wide variety of responses from pastors ranging from one extreme to the other. I have been told I was not saved and going to hell, all because I believe that God still heals people today; and I have been welcomed with open arms into places where I don’t even speak their language and an interpreter has to be used. You probably assume these responses came from denominations of differing fundamental beliefs, but they were all from people who are supposed to be Christian brothers and sisters.
The issue of denominational walls has been on my mind for some time. I was reading a daily devotional recently, and came across something regarding that exact issue. The following is an excerpt from that:
We must recognize that there is only one body. The longsuffering of God reaches out to believers who have the idea that only those in their church are right. That way of thinking is foolishness. It is foolishness for people to come to their communion table and think that their table is the only table. What about the hundreds of people who are sitting around their tables partaking of the bread and wine? Friend, the body of Christ consists of all who are in Christ.
The scriptures definitely say that all who are Christ’s at his coming will be changed. It seems that we cannot be all Christ’s unless something is done, and God will sweep away so many attitudes that are spoiling our unity. We must reach the place of perfect love.
Let us be careful that we do not in any way defile the body, because God is chastening the body and fitting it together. There is something deeper down in the spirit of the regenerated person when the impurities of life and of the flesh fall off. Oh, there is a resemblance, a likeness, a perfection of holiness, of love. O God, take away the weaknesses and all the depravities.
You will never advance in the kingdom unless you see that in every church there is a nucleus that has as real a God as you have.
Just because one believes in tongues and another does not, does not make one more holy than the other. Just because one believes in divine healing and another does not, does not make one more Christian than the other. These are the non-fundamental beliefs and have no bearing what so ever on a person’s salvation. What matters is the fundamental beliefs, that God sent his son Jesus to die on the cross for us to be raised again on the third day, that we might receive eternal life through him. If we share those fundamental beliefs than we ought to be united, regardless of denomination, working toward the same goal, God’s purpose.
It has been evident for some time that there is such complacency in the church today. So many people do not have the fire and passion to serve Christ. They come on Sunday morning, wear a smile and shake your hand, they sit lifeless in the pews, and that is all the contact they have with God until the next Sunday. They are set in their ways and that is just the way they like it. They are comfortable, and that is a dangerous place to be. I am beginning to realize that it doesn’t just stop there though. The complacency reaches far beyond the pews, and has taken hold of the men and women standing behind the pulpits. This is much more dangerous folks, because it does not just effect themselves, it is killing everyone in front of the pulpit as well.
It’s time for a change folks; it’s time to put our focus back on Christ. The church is not ours, it belongs to God. We are the bride of Christ, and it is time we started acting like it. But it all starts with you, if you expect nothing, that’s exactly what you will get. If you want to see a change then come expecting change. The key to seeing fruit come forth is expectation. We have to change the way we think. If we think we have it all figured out, that we have “arrived”, we couldn’t be farther from the truth. That is a dangerous place to be. If we feel we have nothing more to learn, then God can no longer use us.
We held service at the Four Square church in Saint Maries, Id yesterday. We have been here for a few weeks and really gotten to know some of the people here, and they have truly made us feel welcome. In the short time we have been here they have really made us feel like family. I would like to thank Pastor Steve for letting me be a part of the Sunday morning service while he was away on vacation. We are planning on a revival service here in a few weeks. I am excited about what God is going to do, we can't wait. Also thank you to Amy for allowing me play and sing with the worship team too.
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