Unity in the Spirit
Imagine a man in a far-off, war-torn country who is given the opportunity to take asylum in a prosperous foreign nation. A room is prepared for him by a kind emissary, complete with all of the refreshments native to his homeland, neatly arranged in the refrigerator alongside the local foods. The TV is set to the channels he would frequently watch, and even the clothes hanging in the closet are in the style of his people. Every last detail has been prepared to make him feel at home as his citizenship in this land of peace is being worked out.
“Love your neighbor as yourself” is the prime principle of this new nation he finds himself in, and he can’t help but feel grateful for the great care he receives as they help him transition into a citizen of his new home.
Now, let’s ask ourselves an important question:
What does the Lord think of all the denominations we have splintered ourselves into?
It’s a question I believe all of us should ask, as it no longer seems obvious what the true “holy catholic church”, the one founded by Christ and built by the apostles, really is.
Pentecostalism, Methodism, the Greek Orthodox Church… the list goes on. Yet I suspect we in the modern day are merely doing what the Lord warned the Pharisees of in Matthew 23:24 “straining out gnats and swallowing camels.”
Believer’s baptism, infant baptism, submersion, sprinkling, regeneration preceding faith, faith preceding regeneration, postmillennialism, amillennialism—the list continues. But what would our Lord think of the constant bickerings among His Methodist and Lutheran children?
Does He approve of the Reformed talking down to the Arminians? Does He approve of Provisionists being mocked by their fellow soldiers in the Great Commission?
“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
Ephesians 4:3–6
Consider two giants of the faith with polar opposite theologies—George Whitefield (a Calvinist) and John Wesley (an Arminian)—and their views toward one another despite their great theological differences.
John Wesley on George Whitefield
“Dear Mr. Wesley, may I ask you a question?”
“Yes, of course, madam, by all means.”
“But, dear Mr. Wesley, I am very much afraid what the answer will be.”
“Well, madam, let me hear your question, and then you will know my reply.”
After some hesitation, the inquirer tremblingly asked, “Dear Mr. Wesley, do you expect to see dear Mr. Whitefield in heaven?”
A lengthy pause followed, after which John Wesley replied with great seriousness, “No, madam.”
His inquirer at once exclaimed, “Ah, I was afraid you would say so.”
To which Wesley added, with intense earnestness, “Do not misunderstand me, madam; George Whitefield was so bright a star in the firmament of God’s glory, and will stand so near the throne, that one like me, who am less than the least, will never catch a glimpse of him.”
George Whitefield on John Wesley
“The good Mr. John Wesley has done in America is inexpressible. His name is very precious among the people; and he has laid a foundation that I hope neither men nor devils will ever be able to shake.”
This example, I believe, is one of the truest demonstrations of Ephesians 4:3–6, and it is an attitude the Lord would have us all imitate toward our brothers and sisters in Christ.
The true Church has children of God in Baptist churches, Methodist churches, Pentecostal churches, non-denominational churches, and beyond. We all have many reasons for our beliefs. Some hold a high view of the sovereignty of God because they are uneasy with the idea of anything being outside His perfect plan, finding safety more than scriptural certainty. Others resist a monergistic view of salvation because their moral intuition cannot reconcile love without choice.
The point is, none of our beliefs are formed in a vacuum. Countless influences, sometimes beyond our control, shape our readings and interpretations of Scripture. Yet do you not see the Lord’s mercy even in this diversity of thought?
If we find genuine believers across denominational lines, which cannot all be perfectly correct, it proves that the Lord overlooks our small errors and welcomes all who come to Him in humble repentance and faith, regardless of the particular branch of Christianity they inhabit, for all share the same Root.
Now, return to our story at the beginning.
Suppose we find a man in a Roman Catholic church being drawn by the Spirit to the Lord Jesus Christ. Troubled in his heart, he no longer feels he can continue in endless Hail Marys and repetitious prayers. Downtrodden, he decides to take the matter to the Lord in prayer. One afternoon, as he walks the streets of his town, he hears beautiful hymns, familiar melodies from his youth echoing from a nearby church. Drawn to it, he walks in. Everything feels familiar: the priestly collar, the confessional, the murals, the communion table, and the reverence for Mary. Yet something is different.
The pastor approaches the altar and begins preaching the cross of Christ, but in a way the man has never heard before! The message carries power. He hears that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. His heart burns within him, and for the first time in his life, he feels strangely warmed. His relationship with God will never be the same. After speaking with the pastor, he eagerly joins a Lutheran church and begins a new life, no longer crushed by guilt but free in grace.
Now, as unlikely as this story may seem (for few Catholics are unaware of Martin Luther or the Reformation), don’t miss the crucial point.
I personally believe that the Lord Jesus, in His kindness and mercy, is not concerned with which church a person attends so long as that church truly knows Him as Savior and Lord. Traditions are not inherently bad, provided they do not contradict the Word of God, and can even help build a strong faith.
As for my inspiration: I have a friend who recently came to the Lord in saving faith. His mother, a devout Roman Catholic, does not yet appear to know Christ personally. He is seeking a home church, and we have considered inviting her along. Yet she seems deeply rooted in Catholic tradition and unlikely to attend a less formal, non-denominational church like mine.
Because my friend is new to the faith, I worried it might be unwise for him to attend Mass with her, lest he be confused or misled. So, considering the Lord’s heart for unity and truth, I suggested he visit a Lutheran church instead.
Perhaps, in His infinite wisdom, the Lord raised up Luther for this very purpose to prepare a bridge for those like my friend’s mother. Like a kind emissary preparing a room for a foreign refugee, perhaps Lutheranism is the room God prepared for Catholics leaving the war-torn land of deception, leading them gently back to the purity of the gospel.
Honestly, as someone not deeply versed in all these theologies (as may be obvious to those who are), I admit that for the first thirty minutes of a service, I might struggle to tell whether I was in a Lutheran or Catholic church, but perhaps that’s the point.
Maybe Lutheranism is the room God has prepared for returning hearts—complete with confession, reverence, sacraments, and beauty to make them feel at home as they discover grace anew.
In the end, the denomination is not what matters most. What matters is whether one knows Christ as Savior and Lord. All other matters take a backseat.
Remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ:
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34–35
Let us look beyond denominational differences and focus on loving one another, as the God who took on flesh commands us, so that the world may know we belong to Him.
No comments:
Post a Comment