Denominational Made-up-Minds.
(Oh baby!)
Of all the things in The Church, perhaps this is the thing that scares me the most. This blind prejudice to, “We have always done it this way.” or “That is what my daddy believed, what my mama believed, and by golly, it’s what I believe!”
Well… okay then! Pardon my seeing this Glorious Truth through a slightly different lens than yours… and ummmm, is this what you call, “…walking in love?”
I think this intransigence I encounter to other interpretations, or points of view when interpreting the bible, is a prime breeding ground for strife and argument.
Jesus ate with publicans and sinners didn’t He?
And you mean we can’t tolerate someone who prays in a different style than ours? Sings with lifted hands? Waves banners? Chooses a different day to meet? Or, heaven forbid, voted for that other guy! Etc., etc., etc.
If you want to turn a devout-denominational into a cold fish at best, or a snarling junkyard dog at its worst, just begin to challenge their long held, “you’ll-pry-them-out-of-my-cold-dead-hands” beliefs.
Oh my, can you feel the love?
My bible teaches me God’s “love language” is unity. The bible speaks constantly about it, especially in the writings of the Apostle Paul. Doesn’t he implore us to do this over and over again?
Didn’t Jesus?
I just don’t believe division is really God’s idea.
(I think it took all of us to think this one up!)
God knows there is power in unity.
There is peace.
It’s in the book! [Ephesians 4]
No, we don’t all interpret the bible the same way.
I know.
But if we can agree on essentials—then do we really need to divide over the rest?
What childish nonsense.
Can’t we grant one another a certain degree of freedom for love’s sake?
Is that a reason for giving or taking offense?
The hour is late and I think most of us believe Jesus’ return is imminent. So… let’s be about our Father’s business. We have a Harvest to bring in. For love’s sake let’s stop our petty bickering and finger-pointing.
What a relief, if we could all just decide to let go of the rope!
What delight there is in dwelling together—in peace!
Let’s do what we have been gifted for and have been called to do, in the unity of love; taking from that unity the power we need from the Holy Spirit in all of us.
Our mandate is not to figure out who is right and who is wrong.
Rather, our commission is to reach the lost, bind up the broken, and rescue the perishing—while we still can!
Women With Destiny 