I was reading a story the other day about a man back in the early 19th century who felt compelled to unify the church in America. He had many great ideas, and he was a driving force behind a movement that grew quite large at the time. His theology was pretty darn good, his instincts were right for the most part and I thought that on balance he did amazing things for the Body of Christ. There was only one small little problem in his approach in my view, and that was that when you come right down to it, his approach was that if everyone would simply come around to this guy’s view on things, then the church would become united.
I haven’t mentioned any names so far, because when we come right down to it, it doesn’t matter; that’s pretty much the way everybody approaches this subject; just agree with me about everything and we will be united! Is it possible that this isn’t the way to approach unity?
Unity of believers is a big topic in the New Testament; I’m sure that I don’t need to list citations since you all are aware of the verses upon verses that speak of this. Yet with each passing year, there are more divisions within the Body of Christ. I wonder how many denominations, backgrounds, brotherhoods or whatever name you prefer, take the position that they are Christians and everyone else isn’t quite “elect?” Or, to put it another way, I wonder how many groups will not share communion or “fellowship” with someone who is not a member of their particular group… Is this what the New Testament called unity? I rather doubt it.
Is it a requirement that everyone should agree with me on every single point of Biblical interpretation to be a Christian? Before you answer that question in your own mind, take a stab at this one: Is it a requirement that everyone agree with you on every single point of Biblical interpretation? If your answer to the second question is yes, than your answer to the first one must also be yes. If that’s the case then none of us are Christians!
Once upon a time, I worked with a number of Christians in an office. We “debated” frequently the finer points of various doctrinal matters and seldom agreed as a group. There was this other guy named Mike, who was not a Christian. He had overheard our conversations many times and become interested in becoming a Christian, but was understandably confused on the subject Yet, he was beginning to believe. One day, just before he was being transferred out of state, Mike made up his mind that he wanted to accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and went to one of our little debating group,who was a Baptist as it turned out, asking what he should do. The Baptist told Mike he needed to pray the sinner’s prayer and be baptized, but his pastor refused to baptize Mike before he could have time to be sure Mike was ready to join his church; Mike was leaving the state the next day. Mike went through the rest of our group with the same result; no baptism until the pastor said so in each different denomination; no chance of Mike’s being baptized on short notice.
That afternoon, all of the men walked into my office asking about this question; could I get Mike baptized tonight after work? Sure, no problem! That evening, it struck me that amazing things can happen when Christians drop their differences on this or that point and just work together to bring the lost into relationship with Jesus Christ. We didn’t debate the question of whether Mike was being baptized into Christ or being baptized because of Christ, for we all agreed that Mike should be baptized. We didn’t argue about Calvinism or Lutheranism or Pentecostalism. For that one time we were concerned about Christ alone, and Mike began his walk with our Lord that day as a result.
It might just be that unity in the church has more to do with setting our own egos aside than it really does with being more persuasive.
Postscript:
When Mike arrived at his new community, he attempted to join a church in that location, but they wouldn’t accept him there because he hadn’t been baptized by their group. Mike tried another church of a different denomination, and they gave him the same answer. It was several years before Mike came back around to give his faith another chance, so disillusioned was he, but thanks be to God! He eventually settled in to a church after he was transferred back to our location, and is following Jesus still after 20 years.
Life Project Blog 
I was waiting to see all the comments on a great piece. Got fed-up waiting …
U-nleashing all that
N-ot on my watch sonny
I-n favour of
T-ake a seat and tell me more
Y-ou beloved child of Christ
🙂
Good one Paul!
Sinner’s prayer?, joining the church? baptism by who? Oh my!
25,000+ sects and I Corinthians Ch 1? Great post!
🙂
I was blessed, early in my ministry career, to serve on staff under a pastor who scheduled a private appointment with every candidate for baptism, in which only one thing was discussed… he asked about one’s conviction regarding Jesus Christ. “Do you truly believe that He, God/Son of God was truly born as a man? Do you believe that He truly died in crucifixion? Do you believe He was truly raised from the dead in resurrection? Has He ever died since? Then isn’t He alive right now?” This was a basis of many discussions, not just baptism… but I remember this “conversation starter” very clearly, after decades… and I use and have used it myself.
Last year, I was tasked to develop a “Special Needs” ministry for the church I was serving, and I contacted this same former supervisor/pastor with a few questions, as he’s a noted expert in that field. There was some debate in my current church about how much theological competence was appropriate for baptism, and one of my questions to my mentor reflected this.
I think his response seems very appropriate in today’s discussion here… I’ll quote his answer to my question…
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Question: “What should I know, if anything, about “required theology understanding for a special needs member of diminished capacity” to join a [insert Denomination here] Church?”
Answer: “I’ve had this wonderful question many times through the years. Salvation is a person, not a plan or a set of doctrinal statements. Does the individual have capacity to know persons? Does the person have an experience of Jesus as a living presence? Has the person known Jesus’ love for him and responded by loving Jesus in return? That’s it! His grace needs no more than an opportunity.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
So I was raised and trained early in my career… salvation is a Relationship with Jesus Christ… not a set of doctrinal statements to which we give cognitive assent. It is our responsibility, in baptizing a candidate, to have assurance that their personal Relationship is in place.
I love your blog! Thanks for all you do for/in this Family Business of Kingdom!
I simply could not agree more; awesome comment! Thanks you as always for what you are doing!
Reblogged this on The Postmodern Mystic and commented:
I add a comment to this terrific post. Don Merritt truly “gets it”, and I hope you enjoy, Gentle Reader. Blessings and grace to thee! — LM
Good post!
I have heard it said that the point of a church is to provide accountability and support with respect to doctrine, and that makes sense to me. So I think I understand the hesitation of those churches that were reluctant to baptize your friend on the spot. Depending upon our point-of-view, getting what needs to be done and done when it needs to be done can look hasty, and haste often produces poor results.
Since you and your friend knew Mike, his conversion and baptism did not look hasty to you. To others however,….
The Bible, scripture, provides the reference that defines Christian doctrine, but getting everyone to agree what the Bible means and to use that book exclusively does pose enormous problems. Hence we view each other skeptically. Nonetheless, we are stuck with trying to work together. So we can only pray that the Lord we serve will help us find the wisdom to work together in love.
I appreciate your comment very much. I hope that I haven’t given the impression that I have (or had) a problem with those pastors who declined to baptize Mike; I entirely understand their position, and in the same place would have done the same in all probability. The real point I was trying to make was that when our group of friends and co-workers stopped arguing for once and pulled together, an man was brought to relationship with Jesus Christ. For once, we didn’t argue why he should be baptized, and when we did that, we learned that we all wanted him to be baptized and we had all encouraged him to be baptized. Mike was excited about his new life and sincerely wanted to be baptized. For once, we stopped being a stumbling block and all worked together… that’s the point, or at least that’s what I took away from the experience.
And that’s what I got out of it.
Bless you all for leading Mike to Christ.
Thanks Tom!
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How is it no one has brought up a point even John the Baptist knew and that is in his own words “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.”
(Matthew 3:11). It is this fire of the Holy Spirit Jesus said would bring division among the people! “I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened til it be accomplished! Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division.”(Luke 12:49-51)…………. We are either children born of the flesh and remain in that without repentance or are children born of the promise of God as seen through the passage that Abraham had two sons, one by a bondmaid and her children are still in bondage(Of the world) or we are born of the son of promise through the Holy Spirit (saved by grace). “But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now”. (Galatians 4:29).
In light of all this if we think of the malefactor hanging on the cross next to Jesus had NO TIME to come down off his cross and go get baptized, yet Jesus told him that very day he would be with him in paradise. Something to think about…………Psalm 133:1
God bless You Don, I look forward to your next post….Very enlightening.
Julia
Thanks Julia, all the best!