Two books and a contradiction


In the Bible, there is just one Christian church. The people belonging to it are various, different languages and races and backgrounds. They have different talents or giftings. They are supposed to use their various gifts and insights, all together but in differing ways, to advance God's kingdom on earth.

In the telephone book, there are dozens of Christian churches, separated by language or culture or race, or by the particular insights held (or lacked) by the opinion makers, and all of them with reasons to offer as to why they are not the same as the other Christians down the street.

It's confusing. When you check into a motel you get only two books with your room, and they contradict each another. One church, many churches. Which book are you going to believe?

In moving our thinking beyond our present notions about denominational division, it is useful to note that the division is all man's doing. God wants us pulling together instead. We have our common cause; common sense would suggest we join in common effort. We need to see that the version in the phone book is a distortion of the reality God wants for us.




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