Friday, July 29, 2011

Rules & Creeds


What is the number one reason church's and religion in general are divided today? Difference of opinion regarding creed (beliefs). We all interpret the bible differently. Some of us read it literally and take it for what it was when it was written. Others pull verse by verse and think it is a rule to be followed. There are extremes in either direction.

There is so much separation among God's people because we can't agree to disagree and come together - God wants us to be unified! We all have one thing in common, and it is the IMPORTANT thing - our belief in Christ.

I came across a denominational group - the Disciples of Christ. They set an awesome example. For modern disciples the one essential is the acceptance of Jesus Christ as our savior and obedience to serve him. There is no requirement to give assent to any other statement of belief or creed. Nor is there any "official" interpretation of the Bible. WOW! You mean we can really just come together unified through our simple and sole  belief in Christ our savior? And not have doctrine and creed shoved down our throats? Who-da-thunk it?

 I think all church's should follow this example. What does God want? What is he really after? Our hearts, our belief in him! Our love for him and for one another. If we could set aside our differences, the man-made religion, doctrine, and creed... we all have one common goal to get to heaven, and we all love Christ!

God doesn't want us to be divided by religion, creed, race, gender, sexual orientation, *insert difference here.* He want us to be unified in his name.

Now I beg you, brothers, through the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been reported to me concerning you, my brothers, by those who are from Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. Now I mean this, that each one of you says, "I follow Paul," "I follow Apollos," "I follow Cephas," and, "I follow Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul? (1 Cor. 1:10-13)

What, then, do Christians actually believe in? What is the basis of Christian faith? Is it the Church, Tradition, or the Bible? Answer: It is neither the Church nor Tradition nor the Bible:
  • Even the Protestant Christian does not believe in the Bible, but in the one to whom the Bible bears witness.
  • Even the Orthodox Christian does not believe in Tradition, but in the one whom Tradition hands down.
  • Even the Catholic Christian does not believe in the Church, but in the one whom the Church proclaims.
Remember... Do not put your faith in man - man will fail you! Put your faith and trust in God alone. When no one else is true, he'll still be loving you...


    No comments:

    Post a Comment