It is not unusual. A few centuries ago (as far as two centuries back would more than suffice) denominations are considered important. Today, it isn’t anymore. Anyone who thinks so is branded a separatist. When the Emergent Movement hits, (and it is already hitting hard), the first thing to go is denominations.
Why do I say that denominations are important? I say so on two levels.
On the first level. Going far back into the history of the church, the Roman Catholic church is claimed to be “officially” the first denomination in the world. Even up to today, the world still recognizes it as the “official” denomination of Christianity. I’ve heard a course mate say in point blank, “The Catholic wan is the more serious and holy wan. The Protestant wan is the not serious wan.”
Not serious wan? You mean...
Serious Catholic?
Crazy Protestant?
If we say that denominations are not important, then the great divide between Catholicism and Protestanism should not exist. Do we maintain that not having that great divide is a good thing?
On the second level. Going forward into the history of the church, we see many denominations forming within the Protestant movement. Within mainstream Protestant denominations itself, we see them getting “reformed” here and there. They put the word “reformed” before the name of their denomination, and they’re a new entity altogether.
If we say that denominations within the Protestant movement are not important, then the stands of different denominations mean nothing. Do we maintain that not having a stand on anything is a good thing?
I maintain that denominations are important. It will mean that we stand for something. If we stand for nothing, then we will fall for anything. It is better to stand for something, be it a "correct" thing or a "wrong" thing (as far as conscience serves us), than to stand for nothing.
I believe our view on denominations reflects our attitude towards truth. If there is such as thing as truth, then one should also stand for it. It also shows the depth of one’s seriousness towards God. If we seek to do God’s will, anything goes is not the answer.
I maintain that denominations are important, and yet I also maintain that the universal Body of Christ is equally important. Not having a kingdom mentality nullifies the truth that we pursue therein.
Jesus’ expressed His desire for us to know this truth in His last prayer with His disciples:
“I do not pray for these alone,
but also for those who will believe in Me though their word;
that they all may be one,
as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You;
that they also may be one in Us,
that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (John 17:20-21)
We should know and believe why we are in a denomination – not by misinformation, or by deliberate ignorance. But I also maintain that we should not believe that one denomination is superior over any other.
Our purpose on earth is finding out God’s will and doing it to glorify Him. God puts us in different places under His sovereign plan to function to the praise of His glory. The least we can do is to find our place, and serve Him wholeheartedly there. Not having a place, or refusing to have one, is like a servant who is already inside His master’s compound… But he does his chores while standing on the fence.
1 comment:
The great divide between Catholic teaching and the supposedly bible believing Protestants has been greatly bridged today. We can thank the charismatic phenomenon for this because nobody doubts tongue speaking Catholics salvation because they base their understanding of it on similar experential Christianity. Lovely and convenient..there is no need for examination of your convictions in Christ and no need to raise questions on ones believes in the holy scriptures. So Charismatic Catholics and Charismatic Protestants very much observe each other as brothers in Christ (which Christ?).
You would be surprised to see very well known Pentecostal and Charismatic churches in KL having already joined hands with Catholic churches to jointly organize seminars and concerts. So that's it for your guys..The Ecunemical cancer has long since arrived on our shores!!
If Unity in Christ is what we are pursuing.. it has to be with like minded believers in the scriptures. Some still use the term PROTESTANTS on themselves but do not know that it means to protest against false teaching and lay down our life for the sanctity of the true Gospel.
A.L.
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