Thursday, July 31, 2008

The Denomination Syndrome: Part 2

So, obviously, this is a follow up to Part 1.
After publishing Part 1, I noticed that there were more issues about the “Den-Syndrome” that needed to be discussed and addressed. This will probably mean that I will have to write a third and possibly fourth part.
Goodie. J

In this installment, I’ll shed some light on a few gray areas in relation to Part 1. In some respects, this is a response to some questions brought up by those who have read Part 1. Now, this isn’t a bad thing. I am very grateful to those who have read Part 1 and commented, as well as asked the very questions I’m going to address. I thank those who have supported this blog.

The issue I want to address is the issue of stipulation. Denominations do denote what kind of Christian you are, or better yet, what doctrine you come under. But, I have a problem with that. You see, the book of Acts sets up a framework of how God really wants His church to operate and function. There were NO divisions or separations among the believers of the Early Church. The only labels they had were that of a city or region, such as the Church at Ephesus, Sardis, and so on. The first division in the Church occurred when the Protestants broke away from the Roman Catholic Church in 1517. So, biblically, there is nothing written that says that these denominations are needed. On the contrary, the Bible speaks AGAINST divisions in the church (Eph. 4:1-16; 1 Cor. 12:12-31). However, in today’s world, denominations are becoming less like divisions and more like different parts of one body.

I said in Part 1 that I introduced myself to people as a Christian. I failed to mention that once I established myself as a Christian, I follow up with my denomination. You see, I do not focus on the denomination first, but I do not forsake it either. As I said in my last blog, denomination is not a bad thing, and there is nothing wrong with having pride in your type of church. DO NOT, however, let it get in the way of you and God (because it can happen) as well as you and fellow believers who do not come under the same title as you. All Christians are seen as the same in the eyes of God. Denomination can become a “label” instead of a preference.

I’m proud to be in the Church of God. My great-grandfather was one of the founders of the church I still attend. Both my parents grew up there, and so have my brother and I. I am even about to go to school to enter the Ministry as a Church of God Minister. Yet, I still profess faith and pride in my Savior first, then, acknowledge with pride my denominational preference. It is great to be proud to be Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, etc. But let’s be proud first of the one who made it possible to choose what kind of church we attend. And let’s not let our denomination get in the way of perfect unity in the Body of Christ.

Hope this helps. Part 3 coming soon.