Humility word cloud concept
In the Christianity system of our world, we have many denominations and in many cases some do not see eye to eye. Why? Because one sees a certain part of scripture different from another. Should this be a point of division? Should diversity be a source of division? Some believe yes! This blog addresses my take on this matter.
The word University comes from fusing—UNITY and DIVERSITY. A university is a place where there is a UNITY of DIVERSITY of ideas. In a world with so many nationalities, ethnicities, philosophies, walks of life, there will definitely be a plurality of ideas and opinions—and yet a spirit of UNITY and respect for each other’s ideas and opinions must be fostered if we are to heed the following scripture:
Psa 133:1-3 KJV
(1) Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in UNITY!
(2) It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
(3) As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: FOR THERE THE LORD COMMANDED THE BLESSING, even LIFE for evermore.
Unity is good and pleasant to God and He commands His blessing of LIFE where “brethren dwell together in UNITY”.
HOW IS UNITY ATTAINED?
The scripture says “For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be ONE FLESH? (Mat 19:5)”. How does a husband and wife become ONE? Is it by the man becoming a woman or the woman becoming a man? Absolutely Not! A wife does not have to physically become a man before she and her husband can be ONE. Unity is not sameness.
In like manner, a believer in a particular denomination does not have to entirely agree with another believer in a different denomination before they can be UNITED.
LET US LEARN TO MAKE ROOM FOR EACH OTHER’S DIFFERENCES OF OPINIONS WHILE STILL STATING OURS IN A RESPECTFUL MANNER.
A Methodist may have different views from an Anglican or Presbyterian. That does not mean they cannot be ONE in Christ. Both believe in Jesus. This is the most important thing that unites them.
DOGMATISM VERSUS HUMILITY
The Kingdom of God and God, its King is so vast and deep that it will take eternity of eternities to comprehend His fullness. 1 Cor 13:9-13 says, “For we know IN PART and we prophesy IN PART, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.” One childish way we must put behind us is dogmatism. Why? Because we know in part.
Imagine for illustration purposes that the Kingdom of God is like the biggest, tallest mountain in the world. Then imagine that you (e.g. Methodist or Episcopalian) are on one side of this mountain. What this means your vision will be limited to that part of the mountain. If some other group of persons are situated on the other side of the same mountain e.g. a Pentecostal or Presbyterian, chances are that their vision might be limited to that side of the mountain.
If each group describe what they see of the mountain/kingdom, neither may be wrong. Each may be seeing a piece of the puzzle. It would therefore be silly & childish on the side of either group to be dogmatic in asserting that their part alone is the whole revelation about the mountain and no other person’s perspective matters.
Unfortunately, instead of learning from each other, many have become enemies and miss out of the blessing God commands on unity.
This is how come we have many today who call themselves by the name of Christ but do not get along with others who also call themselves by the name of Christ. How does this glorify Christ?
SHOULD WE THEN CONDONE HERESY?
Emphatically NO! There are issues the scriptures are clearly against such as adultery, lying, murder etc. I am NOT saying condone these or any doctrine which is clearly against the testimony of scripture.
What am I saying then? God is not a three dimensional being and the kingdom is likewise not three-dimensional. It is very plausible that person A might be seeing one aspect of the Truth and Person B might be seeing another aspect. BE RESPECTFUL OF EACH OTHERS DIFFERENCES OF OPINION SO LONG AS IT DOES NOT NEGATE THE BASICS OF THE FAITH.
