CHURCH UNITY
The
very term “denomination” infers division.
The root meaning of the word denomination comes from denominate,
meaning to give a name to. Denominationalism
by definition emphasizes differences to the point of being narrowly
exclusive or sectarian.
Paul
the apostle warned against this divisive, schism spirit when he addressed
the church in Corinth as recorded in I Corinthians 1:10-13 “Now I
beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all
speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions(schisma) among
you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the
same judgment. Now this I
say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apolos; and I of
Cephas; and I of Christ. Is
Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were ye baptized in the name
of Paul? In I Corinthians 3:1-5 Paul further states “There is
among you division(schisma). For
while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not
yet carnal?”
What
the Body of Christ should be doing is emphasizing what we have in common.
What does the Body of Christ have in common?
John the apostle said it best in I John 1:3 “Truly our
fellowship(koinomia=share in common) is with the Father, and with his
Son Jesus Christ.”
The
Holy Spirit led the early church not to separate themselves by
“denominating” or naming themselves distinctly from various believers.
The only designation they used was location or geographical, i.e.,
city/town) church(singular) in Jerusalem or Antioch; church in the house
of Aquila and Priscilla; house to house; churches(plural) in Asia.
Even names for individual believers were either given to them by
non-Christians, i.e., Christians, disciples or references believers made
to one another, i.e., saints, brethren, etc.
It
is so easy for us to be nearsighted about our understanding of the Church
if all we focus upon is our own congregation, denomination, church in our
own country, in the present year or decade or century. Jesus has been at work building His Church throughout
Christian history, even in those eras of time about which we think there
is nothing good to learn.
Christian
history demonstrates the contributions made by believers in all times and
places. When one sees this in
the totality of historical perspective, then there can be a better
appreciation of the diversity of the rich heritage of the Christian faith.
One can be blessed by the liturgical tradition of the Catholic and
Anglican part of the Church which points us to God the Father, mysterious
and transcendent, which inspires our reverence and awe.
Similarly, we all need the Protestant/Evangelical gospel tradition
with its message of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, who fully accomplished the
work that set sinners right with God.
And all of God’s people can be blessed by the
Pentecostal/Charismatic tradition, which reminds us of God’s immanence
through his personal, powerful presence in the Holy Spirit.
Together,
these three great historical movements emphasize God as Father, Son and
Holy Spirit. In gathered
worship, their respective strengths and contributions become manifestly
powerful in the Eucharist(Lord’s Supper), in Preaching(the Word) and in
Praise(Worship). Sadly,
churches that are strong in any of those areas are usually weak in others.
No part of the Christian Church is consistently strong.
Perhaps part of the reason is our common nearsightedness and
failure to draw from the strengths of others outside our own denomination
or movement.
Each
of these historical manifestations of the Church, as indeed every other
part of the universal Church, has something from God which the whole
Church needs, as well as certain errors, abuses and extremes which the
larger Body will do well to recognize and correct.
Together, we stand on tip toe in anticipation of the time when the
Father will present the Church to His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, as a
bride without spot or wrinkle.
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