Sea of Diversity

“If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” (Philippians 2:1-2)

All of the first verse and half of the second verse are the set up to Paul’s point. As Christians we are to be, “likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”

Might I suggest that we, Christians as a group in totality, which includes all of the religions under the Christian umbrella, at best have accomplished only one of these things, and even that is questionable. The entirety of the Christian religions have in common one love, which is Christ, supposedly.

All of the Christian religions are not of one mind and certainly not of one accord

Why is that? Why are the Christian religions so factious? Why are there so many different Christian religions in the first place? Why isn’t there just one religion, Christianity? There is but one God, one Christ, one Holy Ghost, one Word, then why so many different Christian religions?

Let’s back up a little bit and see how the Christian religion began. What is the origin of it?

“Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” (Acts 11:25-26)

Much has been debated as to who gave the followers of Christ the name Christian. Was it the Gentiles? Or by Barnabas and Saul? Was it a title the followers of Christ gave themselves? Equally debated is whether or not the name was meant as a compliment or insult.

It’s important to note that “were called” from the phrase, “the disciples were called Christians” was transliterated from the Greek root word, “Chrema”. It means, “Names given to men from the nature of their business” (Vine’s Expository Dictionary)

Before they were called Christians, these Jewish converts and followers of Christ were simply called, “disciples, i.e. scholars; believers, saints, the Church, or assembly; and, by their enemies, Nazarenes, Galileans, the men of this way or sect; and perhaps lay other names which are not come down to us.” (Adam Clarke)

“It is, however, of little consequence whence the name originated. It soon became a name of reproach, and has usually been in all ages since, by the wicked, the frivolous, the licentious, and the ungodly.” (Albert Barnes).

These Christians were so called because they were not only followers of Jesus Christ, but they themselves were Christ like. They were emulating Him. There’s a big difference between following and being. In every way humanly possible these early Christians were “likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind”, all of which was of Jesus Christ. Jesus was the focal point and the image portrayed and lived.

There is a huge difference between following Christ and being Christ in all ways humanly possible. It’s the difference between a Church attendee and one who lives, moves and has his being in and of Christ.

And I will make the same distinction between Christians and Christian religions. The different religions are constructs of man. Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Episcopalian, Lutheran, Quaker, it doesn’t matter. All of these religions were created and founded by men. The rituals and ceremonies are too. Don’t get me wrong. There are certain things such as the sacraments which are ordained and mandated by God. But even the sacraments have been affected by man. For example, the Eucharist, the Lord’s Supper. One religion believes in transubstantiation, that is, they believe the wine and the bread actually turns into the physical body and blood of Jesus Christ once ingested. Where did that idea come from? Not from the Bible.

The rites, rituals, ceremonies, procedures & protocols, songs & prayers, doctrine, precepts, and beliefs are so numerous and so diverse that it is simply impossible to address them all, much less attempt to list them all here. But that is exactly the point of this message. Where is the one mind, one accord and one love amongst this sea of diversity?

The Apostle Paul, said, “For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2).

No longer is Jesus Christ the “nature of our business” but rather Church and religion is. To know the difference between Christ and Church & religion, all one has to do is to read the Bible and stay in prayer. Unfortunately, I must be specific here, but reading your Bible doesn’t mean only reading and re-reading your favorite passages. Nor does it mean reading the Bible cover to cover, setting it down, never to crack open the cover again.

The Bible is the definitive word of God. Nothing else is, and that includes your religion, Church and Pastor.

Use your Bible as a sieve. Whatever you pour in it and sticks, keep. Whatever flows on through, let go.

To fulfill the joy of the Apostle Paul, we must be likeminded, have the same love in Jesus Christ and not religion. Only when we are in Christ and Christ in us can we experience divine love, be of one accord and of one mind.

Bill Hitchcock