This is a question that plagues lots of Jesus followers. They read Jesus' prayer in the 17th chapter of the Apostle John's Gospel, where he prays, "that they [his followers] may be one, even as You, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us; that the world may believe that you sent me." Even skeptics and others outside the Church stand up and take notice of this prayer of Jesus. They see the presence of all the different denominations as a disclaimer against faith.
First, let me say that, obviously, I agree that Jesus' prayer for unity is a precious thing and should of deep concern for us. Followers of Jesus are to live in unity - the kind of unity that characterized the relationship between the Father and the Son. Yet I don't think that Jesus had in mind that we should all be one in a very literal way. That kind of unity is characteristic of the monism of Islam. The Christian understanding of unity is grounded in the Christian conception of the Trinity - which means that we have plurality within unity. This is precisely what we have do have in the Church - though, sometimes, the particular expressions of the streams of the Christian tradition do not live out the mutual "interpenetration" that Jesus seems to have experienced with the Father.
Second, and partly for this reason, I don't think denominations are all that bad. I used to think differently. Now I recognize that when large groups of human beings gather together in meaningful community, there will be differences. Being a pastor has schooled me in this reality. Sometimes these differences are sinful and need healing; sometimes they are just differences of values and preferences and reasonable theological distinctive. These latter differences are not (necessarily) sinful; and it can be okay in these circumstances to separate ... not all denominations are birthed in division.
And, third, contrary to what some religious commentators are saying, I actually disagree that the denominational divides are getting worse and worse. I can point to several indicators of the truth of this: a) the fact that the centuries old division between the Lutherans and Roman Catholics has been healed - they are now restored in communion with one another; b) the fact that most people who study religious life in America point to the decline of denominational affiliation; c) our experience in the Vineyard bears this out - most Vineyard churches have people from all kinds of backgrounds (Catholic, Vineyard, Lutheran, Presbyterian, non-denominational fundamentalists, charismatic, none, etc.) who happily worship together and who never really identify themselves as "Vineyard" (though they love the Vineyard) and who mainly refer to themselves as followers of Jesus; d) at St. Augustine's Lutheran Benedictine Retreat House, in Oxford, MI (which is a monastery - where, one would think, there would be lots of hide-bound traditionalism), anyone is welcome to receive communion so long as they are able to receive communion in their home church; e) I could go on about the emergence of the Taize movement in France, etc. It is true that there are plenty of rifts in the Church of Jesus and that, in some corners, these are unhealed rifts rooted in sin.
To the extent that this is the case, these sinful divisions need to be acknowledged, confessed and repented of, and reconciliation needs to be pursued. This reconciliation may not bring us all back together, but it will certainly help us to experience that unity of the heart - a oneness of purpose and affection - that so characterized the life of the Son with the Father.
We sometimes have this idea that it is wrong to ask why.
Why? It isn't a sin to doubt. It isn't a sin to ask questions.
God never turns his back on anyone asking an honest question. We can be honest with God. We can bring our hard questions to Jesus.
There's a story from the life of Jesus. You can find it in Matthew's biography, right near the end, in the 28th chapter of his book. Matthew is telling the story about the time after Jesus' resurrection from the dead, when he meets with his followers before translating out of their view. Matthew says that, when they saw the risen Jesus, their reaction was to worship. Jesus has just risen from the dead, something that no other human being had ever done. He's defeated death and his body is glorious. They were filled with awe and reverence. And, Matthew says, "some doubted." I love that little line, because it has got to be one of the most honest statements in the Bible. I mean, they knew what we know: dead people stay dead, right? And here's Jesus, risen from the dead? It was a little much to take in for some of them. They worshiped, but some doubted. They worshiped even while doubting. They were able to honor God and ask some honest questions at the same time; doing the one didn't necessarily diminish the other. Nor does Jesus rebuke the doubters. In fact, he commissions these same folks to carry on the work he's begun.
There's another biblical story that I'm reminded of, even more famous. It has to do with so-called "Doubting Thomas," pictured above. This story comes from John's biography of Jesus, in the 20th chapter of his book. Again, Jesus has recently risen from the dead. While his friends are gathered (secretly - for fear of suffering the same fate as Jesus), Jesus meets up with them to show them he's now alive; only, Thomas isn't there. They tell Thomas Jesus has appeared to them alive, but Thomas is skeptical. He wants proof. A week later Jesus meets up with his friends again, this time with Thomas among them. Jesus is fully aware of Thomas' mindset. Does he rebuke him? Kick him out of the group? No. He invites him to poke around and consider the evidence, to consider Jesus. And then Jesus invites Thomas to lay doubting aside and take up trust, to believe.
Jesus welcomes our honest questions.
This blog is dedicated to reflecting on some honest questions asked by members and friends of the Royal Oak Vineyard Church in the 2008 Easter Season. I look forward to your comments.
Why? It isn't a sin to doubt. It isn't a sin to ask questions.
God never turns his back on anyone asking an honest question. We can be honest with God. We can bring our hard questions to Jesus.
There's a story from the life of Jesus. You can find it in Matthew's biography, right near the end, in the 28th chapter of his book. Matthew is telling the story about the time after Jesus' resurrection from the dead, when he meets with his followers before translating out of their view. Matthew says that, when they saw the risen Jesus, their reaction was to worship. Jesus has just risen from the dead, something that no other human being had ever done. He's defeated death and his body is glorious. They were filled with awe and reverence. And, Matthew says, "some doubted." I love that little line, because it has got to be one of the most honest statements in the Bible. I mean, they knew what we know: dead people stay dead, right? And here's Jesus, risen from the dead? It was a little much to take in for some of them. They worshiped, but some doubted. They worshiped even while doubting. They were able to honor God and ask some honest questions at the same time; doing the one didn't necessarily diminish the other. Nor does Jesus rebuke the doubters. In fact, he commissions these same folks to carry on the work he's begun.
There's another biblical story that I'm reminded of, even more famous. It has to do with so-called "Doubting Thomas," pictured above. This story comes from John's biography of Jesus, in the 20th chapter of his book. Again, Jesus has recently risen from the dead. While his friends are gathered (secretly - for fear of suffering the same fate as Jesus), Jesus meets up with them to show them he's now alive; only, Thomas isn't there. They tell Thomas Jesus has appeared to them alive, but Thomas is skeptical. He wants proof. A week later Jesus meets up with his friends again, this time with Thomas among them. Jesus is fully aware of Thomas' mindset. Does he rebuke him? Kick him out of the group? No. He invites him to poke around and consider the evidence, to consider Jesus. And then Jesus invites Thomas to lay doubting aside and take up trust, to believe.
Jesus welcomes our honest questions.
This blog is dedicated to reflecting on some honest questions asked by members and friends of the Royal Oak Vineyard Church in the 2008 Easter Season. I look forward to your comments.
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1 comment:
I fine all of this very interesting.
The Vineyard has truly been a God send in my life. Both in Iowa and in Michigan.
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