MAX ON LIFE

83. Some people in our church feel that we shouldn't associate with members of other denominations. This doesn't seem right to us, but we are new believers, and we want to respect the opinions of those who have been in the church longer than we have.

Some preach a different message than Christianity. Sometimes subtle. Sometimes obvious. Those groups need to be approached with caution since they use twisted theology and convoluted reasoning to confuse the converts.

Within Christianity there are subcategories or denominations that have different ways of expressing biblical truth. One group wears suits, another wears collars, and another wears golf shirts. They may differ in their views of communion: once a week, once a month, or every once in a while. Wine, grape juice, fruit punch. When it comes to baptism, one may immerse, the other sprinkle.

Whatever churches' methods and whatever their practices, God has one flock. The flock has one shepherd. And though we may think there are many, we are wrong. There is only one.

Never in the Bible are we told to create unity. We are told simply to maintain the unity that exists. Paul exhorts us to preserve "the unity which the Spirit gives" (Eph 4:3). Our task is not to invent unity but to acknowledge it.

I grew up with two sisters and a brother. We came from the same family. We had the same father and mother. I'm sure there were times when they didn't want to call me their brother, but they didn't have that choice.

Nor do we in the church. When I hear someone calling God "Father" and Jesus "Savior", I meet a brother or a sister - regardless of the name of their church or denomination.

By the way, the church names we banter about? They do not exist in heaven. The Book of Life does not list your denomination next to your name. Why? Because the denomination does not save you. And I wonder, if there are no denominations in heaven, why do we have them on earth?

What would happen.... (I know this is a crazy thought.) But what would happen if all the churches agreed, on a given day, to change their names simply so "church"? What if any reference to any denomination were removed and we were all just Christians? And then when people chose which church to attend, they wouldn't do so by the sign outside. They'd do so by the hearts of the people inside. And then when people were asked what church they attended, their answer would be just a location, not a label.

And then we Christians wouldn't be known for what divides us; instead, we'd be known for what unites us - our common Father.

By: Max Lucado