The Christian church is divided. I
am not talking about the divisions over doctrine and moral behavior, which can
be defended. Nor am I talking about the divisions over personal animosities,
which are not so excusable but are not surprising in a fallen world. I am
speaking of the divisions over style and methodology, or even by age and race.
We fight over things like dress and types of music and other things that seem
to go under the category of details. Even some things that are considered
doctrinal seem more a matter of style than principle. Now God does call us to
unity (Romans 15:7; Philippians 2:1,2; Ephesians 4:3-6), but what does this
mean? In Scripture this does not mean being exactly alike. Scripture pictures
Christ’s church as a body made up of different members that work together to
accomplish God’s purposes (1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Romans 12:3-8; Ephesians
4:11-16). The Christian church is an assembly of people with different
backgrounds, different tastes, different personalities, and different gifts,
brought together to serve the one true God. How can we return to that ideal?
I am convinced that the first step
to bridging these divides is to follow the Biblical principle of putting others
and their concerns before what we want (Philippians 2:3,4; Romans 15:1,2; Mark
10:42-44). In doing this we are following the example of our Master, who left
the throne of heaven to rescue us from our sin (Philippians 2:5-11; Romans
15:3; Mark 10:45). This, in many ways, cuts across our current consumer-oriented
approach to churches. We look for a church that meets our needs and where we
feel comfortable. Now all of us have legitimate needs, and there is a place for
considering them when choosing a church. We are not self-sufficient, and we
need one another to be built up (Hebrews 10:24,25; Colossians 2:19; 1:28,29).
Therefore, we should not be so proud as to refuse to accept this. Nonetheless,
should we really be totally focused on our needs and what makes us feel
comfortable? Should we not also consider how we might serve others? Should we
not even consider looking for a church that needs us and needs our gifts,
rather than one that simply reinforces our prejudices? Should we not try to
find ways to build bridges to people different from us, rather than stay in our
comfortable cliques? And if we are already part of a church, should we not look
for what we can contribute to that church, rather than simply what it does for
us? Now there is a balance here. I do not suggest that someone go into or stay
in a perfectly horrid situation on the idea they can certainly change it. There
is a certain amount of conceit involved here. But neither should we simply
approach being part of a church based wholly on the idea of what is in it for
us. For this is not the attitude of a true servant.
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