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Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Hey Sis, it's bigger than we thought!

About 3 years ago, my younger brother who lives in England called me one evening so excited that I could barely understand a word. I had to ask him to take a deep breath and slow down. He did, then he started again. The conversation went something like this...


"Hey Sis, it's bigger than we thought!"
"What's bigger?" 
"The body of Christ! Its bigger than we thought!"

I had a similar revelation many years ago, but it really wasn't something I could discuss freely with family. We grew up in a denomination that some might call legalistic. 

Although it was never directly said, my brothers and I came away from that background thinking that one particular type of church was the only kind that really preached truth and everyone else was either very liberal or just plain not right with God at all. 

The Bible college I attended (back in the dark ages, according to my just-about-grown children) was very much in line with where I came from doctrinally, but a student did not need to be a member of any particular denomination in order to attend. We were simply required to be in agreement with the college's doctrinal statement. It was there I had the privilege to meet many people, from many parts of the globe, from many different backgrounds. 

My brother's revelation came after a friend invited him (and his family) to visit a church with a different label than where he came from. At first he hesitated, thinking these people were probably not quite right. 

After the second or third Sunday visiting there, a light turned on for my brother. Not only was this church preaching and teaching the truth of God's Word, there was a reality to their worship and life that he had not seen before. That's what prompted the phone call.

Of course, I had to agree with my brother. 

The body of Christ is indeed much bigger than we often realize. 

The label over the door of my church doesn't mean much in light of eternity. Neither does yours. 

What matters is our personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Our relationship with fellow believers should not be determined by their label. After all, are we not one body? 

We often quote Ephesians 4:1-2, but then stop there.
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love...
Paul wasn't finished with his thought there just yet. Let's see what else he has to say...
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. (Ephesians 4:3-7)

We're not just called to treat the other members of our local church right; we are called to treat the entire body of Christ right, whether we agree with every nuance of doctrine or not.

Please understand, I'm not speaking of ecumenism. I don't embrace all faiths. I am a born again-believer in the Lord Jesus Christ; saved by grace alone through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ who shed His blood for my sin and rose again on the third day.  

It is people with that same kind of faith that I speak of; others who know Jesus as their Savior and Lord.

Just think for a moment about some of the things we allow to divide His body.
  • Bible translations
  • Clothing
  • Music

Are any of those things really all that important in light of eternity? 

Are they really worth dividing the family of God?  

Every one of us was, at one time, alienated from God because of our sin. 
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ... 
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according 
to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own 
will... (Ephesians 2:4-5, 1:14)

Since that's how God feels about each member of the body of Christ, how dare we treat one another as something less? 

We don't have to agree on everything, but God says we are required to "keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

Some Christians will split hairs, so to speak, over the smallest things. 

For example, I personally believe that Melchizedek is Jesus (Genesis 14 & Hebrews 7). There are others within the body of Christ who would not agree.

Is it really worth creating division over that? In light of eternity, how much does it matter? Is the person who is right somehow more favored by God? Is the person who comes to a different conclusion going to be punished by God?

Sometimes, for those members of the body of Christ who practice extreme isolation from the rest of the family of God, pride is a huge issue. How can I say that? Personal experience. 

Spiritual snobbery or religious pride (or whatever you'd like to call it) certainly does not please God who, in the richness of His mercy, sent His only Son to die for each of us. 
When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace. (Proverbs 11:2,12)
Pride has no place among those who claim to know Christ. We have no right to think more highly of ourselves than of others. Take a look at this admonition given to Paul for the believers in Rome by the Holy Spirit:
For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them... (Romans 12:3-6) 
If anyone ever had justification for religious pride it was the apostle Paul. Just take a look at his spiritual pedigree...
Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. (Philippians 3:4-6)

Despite all of that, Paul was humble before both God and man.
But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. (Galatians 6:14-16)
Did you catch that?  "For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision." I think that could easily apply to the way we compare our doctrines to those of others or how we compare our church to another. 

I would venture to say, "For neither your favored translation or mine counts for anything" and "For neither my church's label or yours counts for anything" because what really matters is "a new creation." Don't argue with me. It is not my idea. Go back and read the passage again. 

And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. (Galatians 6:16)
Do you see here how Paul again mentions peace? It is all about  "Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Ephesians 2:4)

Many churches/denominations in the world today are named for the person who founded it or for some quirk of doctrine that sets them apart in some way.

Paul addresses this phenomenon also...

Now this I say, that every one of you saith, 
I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; 
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? 
(1 Corinthians 1:12-13)

Question: Is Christ divided? I hope you answered with a resounding, "NO!"

Then my next question has to be: Then why do we divide His body?

No member of the body of Christ should ever be treated unkindly or differently just because they don't agree with you or don't agree with me. None of us are always right all the time. We are all sinners for whom Christ died and are all equally loved by Him.

Let's work together for unity, not just within our local body of believers but also within the body of Christ as a whole.

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. (Psalm 133:1-3)

The next time you meet a sister or brother in Christ whose label is little different than yours, I invite you to say,

"Hey Sis, it's bigger than we thought!" 
                                              or

"Hey Bro, it's bigger than we thought!" 



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