What Did Jesus Do?
Now the FULL number of those who believed were of ONE heart and soul,
and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own,
but they had everything in common.
Acts 4:32
I don’t want anyone to take this the wrong way. Please understand that I am happy to be in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. But, that being said, I have a strong suspicion that the Father and Son are not thrilled with the proliferation of denominations. I mean, it must almost look like a cancer infecting the Church. Forgive me, but I can almost hear Jesus saying, “You know, Abba, I just wish all these denominations would go to hell. Do you think we should send them all back to the devil?” And the Father sighs and responds, “I hear that! Try and be patient a while longer. Even as the denominations proliferate, there is a small but growing number who get it/us, and who are seeking to truly become one Church, even as you and I, and the Holy Spirit, are one. But, only when the time comes for your return, will the full number of those who believe be of one heart and soul.”
Again, just in case anyone from the EPC reads this, I am happy, and thankful, to be part of that franchise. Yet, at the same time, I long to belong to that full number of believers who are of one heart and soul, but, frankly, denominationalism keeps getting in the way. My friend Bob is in the PC(USA). Philip is PCA. Paul is C&MA. Jimmy is Southern Baptist. And then there’s Phil, who is independent. So, as much as my friends and I are, in Christ, of one heart and soul, our denominations (or independence) prevent us from having everything in common, as long as denominations are doing their thing more than His.
One of us may have this creed. Another may have that mode of baptism. A third may hold to a polity (church governance) different from the rest. And on and on. Think about it. The Book of the Acts of the Apostles tells us that, among early believers, all were of one heart and soul. Everything they had, not just material possessions, but, most importantly, their faith, they had in common. And, I believe, it was the matchless power of all, as relatively small as all was at first, being ONE, that enabled the followers of Jesus to transform lives, families, communities, and empires. Today, with the many denominations seemingly being more about what we have in particular rather than in common, there seems to be less and less power in the body of Christ to change, to transform, much of anything. The result is that most of the world finds it quite easy to ignore us, which means they find it easy to ignore Him, and that is tragic.
I don’t know about you, but I want to experience being part of the full number of believers in this day who are of one heart and soul, having everything in common, most especially our faith in Jesus Christ, our love of the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. As a matter of fact, if the Lord sees fit to give me another opportunity to serve as an undershepherd to part of his flock, I believe I would incorporate from the beginning a regular (at least once a month) visit of the entire congregation with another to worship with them and affirm the oneness of our heart and soul in and through Jesus. Imagine what it would be like if an entire congregation showed up in the midst of yours on a given Sunday, and made your prayers their prayers, made their offering your offering, and together as ONE affirmed the Lordship of Jesus Christ. I think we would all come away knowing we were of one heart and soul.
S.D.G.
Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4
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