The wise man wrote God’s instruction, “But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil” (Prov. 1:33). To listen to God is to pay heed, to obey His teachings and instructions. That obedience is tied to the spiritual safety and security of the individual who so “listens.” Are you living a lifestyle in which you can be confident of your spiritual safety and security?
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Disunity is an earmark of denominationalism that is apparent for anyone who is even halfway observant. The term denominationalism means, at its base, division! It has produced, and it nurtures, blatant division among most of those who call themselves Christian. All of the different denominations have their own names, their own doctrines, their own plans of salvation, their own systems of church structure and government and their own individualized worship. The non-Christian world can easily be left in a state of confusion, not knowing which brand of Christianity to believe and follow.
Last week’s bulletin article “Christian Unity?” discussed the unity that is supposed to prevail among all of those who claim to follow Christ. Jesus prayed that all of His followers would be as united as are He and the Heavenly Father (Jn. 17:20-21). Denominationalism, however, has produced exactly the opposite of what Jesus prayed for. The fundamental concept of denominationalism is division, and division is exactly what it has produced within the realm of what is called “Christendom.”
In Jn. 17:20-21 Jesus prayed that all of His followers would be “one,” that is united. But the unity for which Jesus prayed was not some loose amalgamation. It was not a high sounding agreement to disagree agreeably. He prayed, “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”
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September 2018
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