This is a principle that I have been and probably will be wrestling with for a long time to come. In the body of Christ, each member holds different roles. There are hands and feet and eyes and mouths, etc., and while we are all different, we are all connected on the base level of Christ. Practically, this includes the different denominations of the Church. These denominations have distinctions, but they ought not to cause divisions. Each denomination, like each individual member, has a different role; each appeals to different convictions and reaches different people. So long as they are grounded on the foundational doctrines of Scripture, they, I think rightfully, are distinct. The same is true for the individual. God has made each of us intentionally different to fulfill our purpose in his will. These differences, rather than dividing us, should be celebrated and unite us in Christ. You have a knack for poetically stating important things in a way that clarifies them and makes them stick in the mind. Thank you for this post; it was very encouraging.
You have a knack for clarity as well, Jacob, and, in fact, I think you're far more concise than I am. I tend to take the long, winding path around the simple fact, even if, hopefully, that path can be surrounding by flowering meadows and poetic landscapes haha. Helps to pass the time at least!
Man, this is one of those meditations that is so much easier to write out than live out. I can think of one or two people right now who need more grace from me. One practical aspect of spending all this time writing is that The Spirit confronts me over and over again. Really, who cares if I get the sentence right if I've missed the substance--which is living it out.
Thank you for your kind feedback and your helpful analysis, brother!
Looks like I caught up on all the ones I missed just in time for this one! This is a very interesting perspective. It should seem obvious that differing roles are necessary for anything to be whole, yet it isn't the initial thought when faced with what is different and/or opposing. To consider that each person has their own role to play is oddly satisfying ans more fulfilling than a person simply just being *there*. It makes me want to look at people in every dynamic and see what it is they may be offering to the whole. I suppose that even those that may appear to be more of a hindrance still have a greater purpose within their way of being. For example, a coworker that has made things difficult for my team still has value to the team in a unique way.
On a church level, considering that people are reached in different ways is very interesting because the question then is "are all denominations equally justified as they reach people in their own ways?" I would assume that the answer is as long as the integrity of the Truth is not altered in any way, the answer is yes? The tricky part then is differentiating what is simply preference and what is wrong 🤔 I want to believe that the branches from this tree are merely spread to reach farther to more people, but some seem to twist the message through their traditions and ultimately make its leaves sick, which in turn hurts the tree itself. Or is it that it isn't wrong of them and the only part that is wrong is their instance that they are correct, creating oppression for their people that maybe are in the wrong tribe? Anyway, interesting thoughts 😂
I so appreciate these questions and insights, Caitlyn. Great thoughts here!
You hit the nail on the head when bringing up the difficulty of discerning when disagreements are gray areas of conscience, i.e. differing views on church ministry and leadership and governance, and when they relate to theological and moral errors. In fact, to your point, some of the major denominations have split over the past couple of decades regarding the homosexuality issue. The Methodists and Episcopalians are two that come to mind. This, of course, is a moral issue, and I believe that such schisms are necessary in order to distinguish which stream will continue to follow the currents of Scripture and which will follow their own fallible understanding. And, in that way, I think a stream is a good analogy here, because as a stream continues to divide, it eventually runs out of water and becomes a dry riverbed. Perhaps this could be said of certain protestant denominations and orthodox churches on the whole, but it's definitely true of individual churches. Nevertheless, I always like to think that even in a dry riverbed Almighty God can produce life for individuals who have eyes to see and ears to hear.
At the same time, I don't believe that any single local church or wider denomination contains the best, soundest, and broadest creed on every single point. The Presbyterian church down the road might offer a weekly Communion, and build their service around the Ordinance, which is a very good thing, whereas the Baptist church up the street only practices Communion once every few months, focusing instead on expositional preaching, which is also a good thing. But imagine what would happen if we could sit St. Augustine, Origen, Thomas aKempis, G.K. Chesterton, C.S. Lewis, A.W. Tozer, Charles Spurgeon, John Calvin, Martin Luther, John Wesley, and Thomas Aquinas in the same room and let them come up with a church liturgy together. A war would break out within 20 minutes! Why? Because these are all men of deep conviction, and deep insight, which will lead to deep disagreement. I suggest that in the same way Paul needed to separate from Barnabas so that God could use both of them in a different manner (not to justify any sin committed in their split), it seems inevitable that men of differing convictions will form new methods and ministries and mission statements, exalting one particular virtue over others, which means that they'll be stronger than their counterparts in one area, but weaker in others.
But your conclusion from the above meditation is precisely the point, and I admire your willingness to be patient with that co-worker who makes life difficult for you. We follow The Spirit, and calibrate our lives to the Scriptures, and listen to our conscience, and, by the grace of God, find our tribe and clan along the way. Yes, that will require splitting at times from those who morally compromise on some clear divine mandate, but it will also require that we recognize our own deficiencies and try to see the best in our brothers and sisters, realizing that our club isn't the end all be all.
In summary, there aren't any Catholics or Baptists or Pentecostals or Methodists or Non-Denominationalists in Heaven. There are only sons and daughters of God who've placed their faith in Christ and have been transfigured into His likeness.
Re the gathering of Epic Christian Minds in one room - I would add J.C. Ryle.
Oh boy, would that be a Superfight! "You think you can hit me with your Institutes? Well here comes my Mere Christianity!! BAM!! I hope my joy surprised you!"
But the thing is...All those men are in one place, together, now. Worshipping the One True & Living Savior.
This brings to mind my journey to faith and in faith. As a child, methodist VBS in High Point, NC, and methodist church attendance in Columbus GA in middle school - because it got me out of the house (I was a bus kid). In high school, and for a total of ~20 years, Assemblies of God in Pace, FL - where I began attendance because my future father-in-law made it clear that, for me to date his daughter, I would be in a pew every Sunday morning & night. But at the A/G both my wife & I were saved, baptized and discipled - not well, but it was a start. Then for ~5 years at a non-Calvinist SBC and now for 10 years in an SBC affiliated reformed Baptist congregation that contains a significant percentage of non-Calvinists (our pastor calls us the "Island of Misfit Toys"). I was having a talk with an elder one Sunday over our differences - whether we could faithfully serve in the congregation without causing division. He pointed to another member & said, "He's an Arminian and we even let him count the money!"
Each place different, each place containing lovely people, saved & unsaved, none of them monolithic in worship style or doctrine. Agreeing on the essentials and showing love.
I was speaking to my pastor Wednesday night after church about some issues I am facing. He & I do not see eye-to-eye on a number of things, yet he is My Pastor. My earthly shepherd and I trust him, that his heart is in the right place, he wants the best for every member and that he & I will one day be around the throne together, where differences will no longer matter. He is the leader of my tribe.
"He's an Arminian and we even let him count the money!" Haha, what a quote.
Man, Travis, what a joy it is for me, a younger brother in the faith, to hear you share a glimpse into the winding road Christ continues to lead you on. I'm edified by your willingness to broaden your own scope of vision, even disagreeing with your pastor in a deferential way, rather than storming out the door and taking a group of people with you. As a pastor's kid myself, and having grown up in church since I was seven months old, I've seen it all--or most of it. Even this past week, I had dinner with some family friends who strongly disagree on certain practical matters (I won't go into it), and the conversations were tense, and I walked away asking the LORD to help me to stop being so petty and just love my brothers even when we don't see eye to eye.
Two things I know for certain: one, that I'm still a massive work in progress; and two, that I'm in the best and most faithful hands of all.
This is a principle that I have been and probably will be wrestling with for a long time to come. In the body of Christ, each member holds different roles. There are hands and feet and eyes and mouths, etc., and while we are all different, we are all connected on the base level of Christ. Practically, this includes the different denominations of the Church. These denominations have distinctions, but they ought not to cause divisions. Each denomination, like each individual member, has a different role; each appeals to different convictions and reaches different people. So long as they are grounded on the foundational doctrines of Scripture, they, I think rightfully, are distinct. The same is true for the individual. God has made each of us intentionally different to fulfill our purpose in his will. These differences, rather than dividing us, should be celebrated and unite us in Christ. You have a knack for poetically stating important things in a way that clarifies them and makes them stick in the mind. Thank you for this post; it was very encouraging.
You have a knack for clarity as well, Jacob, and, in fact, I think you're far more concise than I am. I tend to take the long, winding path around the simple fact, even if, hopefully, that path can be surrounding by flowering meadows and poetic landscapes haha. Helps to pass the time at least!
Man, this is one of those meditations that is so much easier to write out than live out. I can think of one or two people right now who need more grace from me. One practical aspect of spending all this time writing is that The Spirit confronts me over and over again. Really, who cares if I get the sentence right if I've missed the substance--which is living it out.
Thank you for your kind feedback and your helpful analysis, brother!
Looks like I caught up on all the ones I missed just in time for this one! This is a very interesting perspective. It should seem obvious that differing roles are necessary for anything to be whole, yet it isn't the initial thought when faced with what is different and/or opposing. To consider that each person has their own role to play is oddly satisfying ans more fulfilling than a person simply just being *there*. It makes me want to look at people in every dynamic and see what it is they may be offering to the whole. I suppose that even those that may appear to be more of a hindrance still have a greater purpose within their way of being. For example, a coworker that has made things difficult for my team still has value to the team in a unique way.
On a church level, considering that people are reached in different ways is very interesting because the question then is "are all denominations equally justified as they reach people in their own ways?" I would assume that the answer is as long as the integrity of the Truth is not altered in any way, the answer is yes? The tricky part then is differentiating what is simply preference and what is wrong 🤔 I want to believe that the branches from this tree are merely spread to reach farther to more people, but some seem to twist the message through their traditions and ultimately make its leaves sick, which in turn hurts the tree itself. Or is it that it isn't wrong of them and the only part that is wrong is their instance that they are correct, creating oppression for their people that maybe are in the wrong tribe? Anyway, interesting thoughts 😂
I so appreciate these questions and insights, Caitlyn. Great thoughts here!
You hit the nail on the head when bringing up the difficulty of discerning when disagreements are gray areas of conscience, i.e. differing views on church ministry and leadership and governance, and when they relate to theological and moral errors. In fact, to your point, some of the major denominations have split over the past couple of decades regarding the homosexuality issue. The Methodists and Episcopalians are two that come to mind. This, of course, is a moral issue, and I believe that such schisms are necessary in order to distinguish which stream will continue to follow the currents of Scripture and which will follow their own fallible understanding. And, in that way, I think a stream is a good analogy here, because as a stream continues to divide, it eventually runs out of water and becomes a dry riverbed. Perhaps this could be said of certain protestant denominations and orthodox churches on the whole, but it's definitely true of individual churches. Nevertheless, I always like to think that even in a dry riverbed Almighty God can produce life for individuals who have eyes to see and ears to hear.
At the same time, I don't believe that any single local church or wider denomination contains the best, soundest, and broadest creed on every single point. The Presbyterian church down the road might offer a weekly Communion, and build their service around the Ordinance, which is a very good thing, whereas the Baptist church up the street only practices Communion once every few months, focusing instead on expositional preaching, which is also a good thing. But imagine what would happen if we could sit St. Augustine, Origen, Thomas aKempis, G.K. Chesterton, C.S. Lewis, A.W. Tozer, Charles Spurgeon, John Calvin, Martin Luther, John Wesley, and Thomas Aquinas in the same room and let them come up with a church liturgy together. A war would break out within 20 minutes! Why? Because these are all men of deep conviction, and deep insight, which will lead to deep disagreement. I suggest that in the same way Paul needed to separate from Barnabas so that God could use both of them in a different manner (not to justify any sin committed in their split), it seems inevitable that men of differing convictions will form new methods and ministries and mission statements, exalting one particular virtue over others, which means that they'll be stronger than their counterparts in one area, but weaker in others.
But your conclusion from the above meditation is precisely the point, and I admire your willingness to be patient with that co-worker who makes life difficult for you. We follow The Spirit, and calibrate our lives to the Scriptures, and listen to our conscience, and, by the grace of God, find our tribe and clan along the way. Yes, that will require splitting at times from those who morally compromise on some clear divine mandate, but it will also require that we recognize our own deficiencies and try to see the best in our brothers and sisters, realizing that our club isn't the end all be all.
In summary, there aren't any Catholics or Baptists or Pentecostals or Methodists or Non-Denominationalists in Heaven. There are only sons and daughters of God who've placed their faith in Christ and have been transfigured into His likeness.
Re the gathering of Epic Christian Minds in one room - I would add J.C. Ryle.
Oh boy, would that be a Superfight! "You think you can hit me with your Institutes? Well here comes my Mere Christianity!! BAM!! I hope my joy surprised you!"
But the thing is...All those men are in one place, together, now. Worshipping the One True & Living Savior.
This brings to mind my journey to faith and in faith. As a child, methodist VBS in High Point, NC, and methodist church attendance in Columbus GA in middle school - because it got me out of the house (I was a bus kid). In high school, and for a total of ~20 years, Assemblies of God in Pace, FL - where I began attendance because my future father-in-law made it clear that, for me to date his daughter, I would be in a pew every Sunday morning & night. But at the A/G both my wife & I were saved, baptized and discipled - not well, but it was a start. Then for ~5 years at a non-Calvinist SBC and now for 10 years in an SBC affiliated reformed Baptist congregation that contains a significant percentage of non-Calvinists (our pastor calls us the "Island of Misfit Toys"). I was having a talk with an elder one Sunday over our differences - whether we could faithfully serve in the congregation without causing division. He pointed to another member & said, "He's an Arminian and we even let him count the money!"
Each place different, each place containing lovely people, saved & unsaved, none of them monolithic in worship style or doctrine. Agreeing on the essentials and showing love.
I was speaking to my pastor Wednesday night after church about some issues I am facing. He & I do not see eye-to-eye on a number of things, yet he is My Pastor. My earthly shepherd and I trust him, that his heart is in the right place, he wants the best for every member and that he & I will one day be around the throne together, where differences will no longer matter. He is the leader of my tribe.
"He's an Arminian and we even let him count the money!" Haha, what a quote.
Man, Travis, what a joy it is for me, a younger brother in the faith, to hear you share a glimpse into the winding road Christ continues to lead you on. I'm edified by your willingness to broaden your own scope of vision, even disagreeing with your pastor in a deferential way, rather than storming out the door and taking a group of people with you. As a pastor's kid myself, and having grown up in church since I was seven months old, I've seen it all--or most of it. Even this past week, I had dinner with some family friends who strongly disagree on certain practical matters (I won't go into it), and the conversations were tense, and I walked away asking the LORD to help me to stop being so petty and just love my brothers even when we don't see eye to eye.
Two things I know for certain: one, that I'm still a massive work in progress; and two, that I'm in the best and most faithful hands of all.