(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!"
