Sadly, I was hard-pressed to explain to her, or rather not to, that our two denominations seldom have such official dealings with one another as to preach in one another's pulpits. Individual believers often cross over or visit one another's churches, but doctrinal proclamation is seldom shared.
The reasons for this situation are complex and subjective, and are best not stated here. The fact is that these two groups parted long ago over doctrinal differences, and hard feelings remain, as well as practical considerations. But then, no separate denominations would exist if there had not been disagreements and subsequent splits along the way.
Mind you, I am not one of those who dismisses all denominationalism as unspiritual, unscriptural, and unnecessary. That all depends. In my library, I have a fine old poem entitled, "No Sects in Heaven." One day, when Jesus brings his Kingdom, we shall live in an ideal world. Until then, denominations will be necessary and expedient.
But I have felt in recent months an increasing sense of grief oever the separation of believing Christians from one another over sectarian issues and sometimes petty grievances. Now I admit that I am not the most empathizing, altruistic, spiritual, magnanimous, or sensitive person in the world, a fact to which all my friends will no doubt attest. That is why I believe that this concern I have for the Church is from God. All that is good in me was put there by the Lord. It is Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). And I do believe that good resides in me. It is by grace.
I really do believe that I am sensing the heart of God on this. God himself is grieving over his Church, over the separtion of believers from one another. Jesus prayed for his disciples and, by extension, for his whole Church, "That they might all be one, as you, Father, are in me, and I in you; that they might also be one in us, that the world might believe that you have sent me" (John 17:21).
Jesus wants his Church to quit sniping at each other and instead unite in strength of purpose to show Christ to the world. That is what we are here for, and it is high time we did our job.
The Lord grieves not only for our disobedience and sin, but for our hatred and animosity toward one another. Dare we hate another for whom Christ died? "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another" (John 13:34).
We need to begin to associate and share with one another once again. Let's not be petty: forget about who said what, or who did what first. Forgiveness is a fundamental tenet of the Christian faith.
Sure, there will be "touchy" subjects. We all have friends and relatives with whom we must "agree to disagree" on certain points. But unless we make those things an issue, we can happily continue our association. If we concentrate on our areas of agreement rather than our disagreements, we will find that we have much common ground on which to stand united.
Recently, an area minister challenged me on some points of doctrine. I respect my brother's opinions and his right to test my doctrine by the Word of God. I believe in accountability. No minister or leader is beyond just criticism. One mark of a cult is that its leader's teachings cannot be questioned. Such criticism must be done, of course, in a civil, eithical, and up-front manner, never by character assassination or emotional diatribe.
I took my brother's critique seriously and re-examined what I had written. As it happens, I find I stand by what I wrote. But anyone who fails to recognize his fallibility has failed already. Those of us whose doctrine is set in concrete need to admit to ourselves that it might be our own doctrine which is ill-begotten, and our own Bible interpretation which errs from the truth.
Let's be open-minded, and open-hearted, and willing to discuss our points of disagreement. Perhaps we can come to a consensus. Sometimes two parties are actually saying the same thing, only in different terms. But they must truly listen to one another to realize it.
But when we cannot agree, let's agree to disagree, and love each other anyway.
Copyright 1996 Paul A. Hughes
Last updated October 1996. For more information, comments, or suggestions, write RevHughes@aol.com.