Life as a Christian Woman

³⁴“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John  13: 34

Why do we Christians fight each other? Why do we argue?

I’ve asked this question before, and I never get an answer that satisfies me. I’ve been told that this denomination is wrong because they do things this way, and I’ve been told that one is wrong because they don’t do this or that.

I don’t get it.

Please understand, I know that there are sects that are abominations to God’s word, that take scripture and twist it until it is unrecognizable, all to prop up some agenda of hate or separation.

But within the mainstream of faith, there is so much petty bickering over things that, at the end of the day, just don’t matter.

There is so much more that unites us than there is that separates us. Our love for God. His love for us. Our acceptance of Jesus Christ as the risen Lord. Yet we get so bogged down in the mundane, day to day of spiritual life.

Pray this way!  No, that’s wrong! Pray like this!

Baptize by immersion! No, sprinkle as an infant!

Sing! No, bow!

On and on. I have to believe that all of this breaks our Savior’s heart. In His name, we turn on our brothers and sisters in Christ. We look down our holy little noses at other denominations.

The pastor at my church was talking about Heaven, and although what he was saying wasn’t on this topic, it sure is applicable. Heaven will be crowded. And you won’t know everyone there. And they won’t all be from your church.

That’s right. A Baptist might end up next to a Catholic, next to a Lutheran, next to a non-denominational, etc.

So what will you do? Walk out of Heaven? Heck no!

So, if it isn’t going to be a big deal then, why should it be a big deal now? Aren’t we all brothers and sisters of the God of Love?

It’s important to find a church where you grow spiritually, where you are fed from God’s word, where you feel nearer to Him. And where you can bind with others who love God, to form a community. But it is equally important to let your neighbor find a church where he or she is fed… and that might not be the same church.

But it’s the same Savior.

I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about You
All about You, Jesus
I’m sorry Lord for the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about You
It’s all about You Jesus

from The Heart of Worship
by Matt Redman

¹³And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13