This weekend found me in the company of individuals of the Baptist persuasion. I don't mind if that sounds a little prejudiced at first, because that's the point. It is so easy to hold your beliefs and denomination high in your mind, over those of brothers and sisters in Christ of different persuasions. But I feel the need to emphasize brothers and sisters in Christ. What are we about in this tension between the denominations? I know I find myself skeptical, ready to analyze and argue the point. Our faith is a big deal, and yeah, it's a good thing we make a big deal over it. But check your pride at the door because the more right you think you are, the more ignorant you're likely to be.
I suppose I expected to identify errors in the presentation of the message at my old church or in the speculations at a friend's Bible study. To risk judging myself too harshly, I suppose that's prejudiced (among other things). Here I find myself in need of forgiveness, and I'm glad that God gently pointed out the matter fairly quickly.
Honestly, I am so glad that I was able to go through the weekend of relief from my normal church responsibilities and spend time in the presence of believers who's desire it was to proclaim the mercy and love of Jesus, our Savior, and to seek to understand Him in His Word. I found my skepticism pleasantly taken aback by the genuineness of brothers and sisters in Christ. My brothers and sisters, some whom I hadn't met 'till this weekend when I fellowshipped, ate, prayed, studied, and reasoned together with them.
"So," sitting here thinking, "be a slow skeptic and a careful critic to your brothers and sisters." They're your spiritual family. By all means and by all rights believe what you believe with all your heart. Right or wrong, at least your believe, and from that maybe you can change one day. I'm argumentative. I'm opinionated. I'll learn only as God changes me, but to those brother and sisters that seek the same God from they're own angle in this life, I say we seek together, and what grace the Lord imparts to one, we share. I think more and more that the difference between the denominations is more of a difference of revelation and God bestowing His truth and grace as He will. Maybe each of us in our own way is not so much wrong as we are missing part of the picture.
To that part of me that will likely remain skeptical or prejudiced, maybe now I can to my critical eye.
"Lord, teach me to commune with my brothers and sisters, for Thou knowest I'm no good at it."
We need each other.
I was hoping to be refreshed this past weekend. I think I got more than I had looked for. Thank God. Spending time with a close friend from college this weekend, she said that the days of college were gone. "Thank God," I replied, sounding almost disdainful, I'm sure. But I think what I meant was "thank God that they happened, and, that being over and passed, we have learned from them."
So in the spirit of my odly phrased reply, the weekend is over, and, "Thank God." *chuckle*
No comments:
Post a Comment