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| Receiving Each Other |
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Are there certain church teachings that you or I find rather repulsive? How do we treat others who hold detestable doctrines, yet follow Jesus? It can be a wrestling match with our own emotions. Denominationalism and other prejudices keep Christians apart. Sometimes it seems like there are large impenetrable barriers between us. We tend not to like those who are unlike us, who believe radically different things regarding what Christianity is all about. Yet what did Jesus say on this topic?
He said that if someone receives Jesus, he receives our Father in heaven. If we receive a prophet, we receive the same reward. If we are receptive of righteous people, we receive a similar reward to them. And, he said that if we as much as give a cup of cold water to a believer, then we will be rewarded. Let's receive each other as fellow believers and not worry about side issues like denominational bigotry. 10:40 "He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me. 10:41 He who receives a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward, and he who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. 10:42 And whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he shall not lose his reward."
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Brent |
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February 25, 2008 at 8:51pm |
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Hey Grant, this is an interesting challenge. There seems to be a fine line between defending the faith from error and demonizing those that don't fall in our line of thinking. Depending on what your "group" is the lines of absolutes and error differs. What I mean is that each group considers wrong thinking in a different light. Maybe what I am talking about is not so much of a fine line. It might be a large gray area. Your point is no less valid, I like what you are proposing, I am just aware of the difficulty in implementing it. Perhaps we could trust God more in the areas that we would rather control. That could help us realize that we don't have to be the police of truth and teaching. I am not talking about the difference between followers of Christ and those that either add or contradict Christ's teaching (i.e. cults). I have started in recent years to listen to those that I don't agree with and look for the truth of what they are saying regardless of the manner in the way they are speaking it. It is hard when someone makes my skin crawl to do this. Sometimes I still will disagree, but it is a stretching time. At this time I can evaluate what is being proposed against Holy Scripture which is the yard stick for all Truth (as I evaluate things). I really like your topic here. I hope to dialog with you more on this. You always make me think. Grace & Peace, Brent |
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Gene |
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February 26, 2008 at 2:59am |
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Grant, I'm all the way with you on this one. I firmly believe that every denomination has something about it that is wrong. Once I let go having to claim that a former denomination I was in was "right", I was able to hear the calling of Christ in my life. It was very scary, because I was terrified that I might be doing something offensive to Christ. Yet I felt called by Him to continue. I did some very serious praying to include asking Him to stop the path I was on if I was in any way going against His will. Any conceivable roadblock fell like dominoes, one after the other. The path was clear. At the same time, my sister in law was headed in exactly the opposite direction, but with the same overall effect.
Now, the focus of my discussions is in encouraging people on their walk of faith in Christ, whereever they may be. If God wants to continue growing someone in their current denomination, that's fine with me. I am simply called to let people know that God Loves them. Retaining denominational boundaries is not part of the picture.
I'd be very content to see all denominational boundaries fall apart and for us all to simply be the body of Christ.
Gene |
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Grant |
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February 26, 2008 at 3:41am |
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Good comments guys! I think the dividing line must begin with "He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me." In other words, do other churches receive Jesus and his apostles - their teachings as well as their persons?
Starting with alcohol, or gambling, or dancing, or traditionalism versus modernism, or hymns versus ccm, or high church versus low church, etc. are all the non-essentials. If one who may be a traditionalist starts with Jesus and a friend who is a contemporary worshipper also starts with Jesus, they actually worship the same Lord.
If a tongues and a non-tongues speaker, or papal and non-papal believer, or immersionist and non-immersionist, or Calvinist and Arminian, or teetotaler and moderate beer drinker, or long hair for men and short hair for men (or whatever the side issue may be) all start with Jesus and also accept his apostles' teachings, then that is a good thing to focus on. |
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Brent |
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February 26, 2008 at 4:51am |
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Grant, I agree with your premise that everything starts with Jesus. I would add escatology as well. Pre-Trib, Post-Trib, Pre-Mil, etc. After all, we are told the study of end times is for encouragement to the Body of Christ. Denominational boundaries are sometimes more important than the revealed Word of God. That is too bad as we cast stones at the Pharasees for putting up man's laws in front of God's laws. |
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Grant |
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February 26, 2008 at 3:03pm |
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Brent, I agree that a lot of eschatology is more in the realm of speculation than essentials. What most agree on is that Jesus will return. When, has always been a mystery and always will be until it happens. |
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Kathy |
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February 26, 2008 at 3:12pm |
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| Very important message, Grant! May it revolutionize us and bring us together! |
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| Gene, have you ever thought that maybe every denomination is missing something that is right? |
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Gene |
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February 26, 2008 at 7:35pm |
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| Yeah, that's part of what I mean. |
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Grant |
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February 27, 2008 at 3:56am |
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I think that most denominations have the right thing, Jesus, but perhaps Jesus is buried under a truck load of denominational distinctives and traditions. When we maximize our traditions (ancient or modern), by default we minimalize Jesus. He ought to be the center - or should I say, treated as the chief foundational cornerstone, instead of merely given lip-service, while we focus on our traditions.
I enclose the lyrics to the Vatican Rag below, but while we smile at it, we must realize that we could translate it very simply into the Pentecostal Rag, Baptist Rag, or even the First Church of Jedadiah Jumbuck Rag. We are all in the same boat here, no matter what our denominational tag is, we need to learn to be able to laugh at ourselves.
First you get down on your knees,
Fiddle with your rosaries,
Bow your head with great respect,
And genuflect, genuflect, genuflect!
Do whatever steps you want, if
You have cleared them with the Pontiff.
Everybody say his own
Kyrie eleison,
Doin' the Vatican Rag.
Get in line in that processional,
Step into that small confessional,
There, the guy who's got religion'll
Tell you if your sin's original.
If it is, try playin' it safer,
Drink the wine and chew the wafer,
Two, four, six, eight,
Time to transubstantiate!
So get down upon your knees,
Fiddle with your rosaries,
Bow your head with great respect,
And genuflect, genuflect, genuflect!
Make a cross on your abdomen,
When in Rome do like a Roman,
Ave Maria,
Gee it's good to see ya,
Gettin' ecstatic an'
Sorta dramatic an'
Doin' the Vatican Rag!
...or watch it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3f72CTDe4-0 |
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Gene |
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February 27, 2008 at 1:31pm |
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You wrote:
Denominationalism and other prejudices keep Christians apart.
I don't think we have to look that far. I call it the four walls mentality. Far too many Christians have the comfort of their own friends and church and never go beyond that - regardless of denomination (or non-denomination). We finally find that peace that was so elusive in our former lives and now we want to soak it up. Sure we'll do things "out there" but they all tend to still be with people from our own churches. How many of us are truly ecumenical and seek out or know people beyond our own church's four walls?
MyChurch is the major exception for those here. But other than that, are we really "out there" with other brothers and sisters from different tribes? If we aren't I think we're missing something important about the whole Body.
(btw: I'm not thrilled that you lumped denominations with "other prejudices.") |
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Grant |
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February 27, 2008 at 3:24pm |
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So Gene, I'm curious. Why are you "not thrilled" that I lumped denominations with "other prejudices." Is not denominationalism a variety of prejudice?
There are many Christians today who do not stay within their "tribal" bounds. I know many former Anglicans who are now Baptist and vice versa, or Baptists who are now Pentecostal and vice versa, Catholics who are now Protestant and vice versa. There is a lot of movement across such former impenetrable lines of prejudice. I believe that such movement has gone a long way to growth in understanding between denominations. |
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Gene |
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February 27, 2008 at 4:49pm |
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Grant, I guess in my circles when the term "prejudice" is used it is an extremely negative term and is a synonym for bigotry, close-mindedness, and intolerance. That exists in all areas of life and is not a defining factor for denominations. Prejudice means to judge without having all the facts. I cannot think of a denomination that has not thought out its position very carefully. Bias and discrimination are terms that also have negative connotations but they are at least more accurate in that people are discriminate in their choices and bias simple means preferring one thing over another.
According to the American Heritage Distionary:
An adverse judgment or opinion formed beforehand or without knowledge or examination of the facts. A preconceived preference or idea. The act or state of holding unreasonable preconceived judgments or convictions. See Synonyms at predilection. Irrational suspicion or hatred of a particular group, race, or religion. Detriment or injury caused to a person by the preconceived, unfavorable conviction of another or others. So, I'd prefer to not use that term. |
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| Grant, I thought you put it well when you wrote "When we maximize our traditions (ancient or modern), by default we minimalize Jesus." And this could be anything we use to gather ourselves into groups, not just traditions. i.e. When we maximize our ______________, by default we minimalize Jesus. |
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Grant |
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February 29, 2008 at 4:40am |
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Thanks Gene and Mike (and Laura). Appreciate your comments. Gene, to me denominationalism is different than the word denomination. Denominationalism is a bigotry - my denomination is better than yours - na, na, na, na, na - etc. Denomination is quite a neutral term. Mike, I think you understand my thinking well. |
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