STILL PREACHIN
Stanley Hamilton
(1 COR. 1:12,13) This I say that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I am of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?"
Many times I've asked people if they are Christians,, and received the reply, "Yes, I'm a (Denominational Name). In the Corinthian church, they would likely say "I am of the Paul Denomination," or I am of the "Church of St. Peter," or I attend the United Congregation of Apollos."
Paul asked a question that every church-going Christian should ask themselves . . . . Is Christ divided? Does the Holy Spirit set different standards for believers? Is God's truth changeable from denomination to denomination? Was Pope John or John Calvin crucified for us? Were we baptized in the name of John Wesley or Martin Luther? NO, NO, NO!
(Eph.4:3-6) Paul wrote clearly, "To keep the UNITY OF THE SPIRIT, in the bond of peace. There is ONE body, and ONE Spirit, even as you 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.."
I recently saw a sign that read, "Celebrate Our Diversity." That may be O.K. for the world, but not for the church. The church needs to celebrate our ONENESS! In Christ, there is no Methodists, Presbyterian, Catholic, Baptist, Lutheran or any such division. Bob Harrington, Chaplain of Bourbon Street, said that denominational tags are foolish because "When you die and go up, they will just fall off, and if you go down, they will burn off!"
FOLLOWING JESUS IS IMPORTANT. FOLLOWING A DENOMINATION IS NOT!!