Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. (1 Corinthians 12:12-14)
The apostle Paul’s picture of the church as the body of Christ is most often applied to individuals with different gifts serving together in the church. But as we consider what I’m calling “God’s Great River of Diversity,” I’d like to apply this biblical metaphor to our unique Christian denominations and traditions.
“Like faith and practice” is a phrase I’ve heard for many, many years. It has become a mantra in many denominations, including my own. But the problem is it serves to divide rather than unite the body of Christ.
Consider Paul’s wisdom, through the Holy Spirit, when he asks, “If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?” (I Corinthians 12:17) There are far too many denominations and traditions that see clearly, but are deaf when it comes to hearing the insight and wisdom of God’s Word through others in the body of Christ.
Consider the deep spirituality and teaching of many Roman Catholics throughout the centuries. If you’ve read my Mystic Monday posts, you have, hopefully, received a great deal of insight from these godly men and women from the Roman Catholic tradition. John of the Cross, Teresa Avila, and Saint Francis of Assisi are some of my mentors. No, I’m not Roman Catholic, and yes, I have some different beliefs than my brothers and sisters in that Christian tradition. But I would be missing so much in my relationship with the Lord if I chose to ignore or reject these fathers and mothers of our faith.
One of my favorite theologians and Christian thinkers is N.T. Wright, former Bishop of Durham and a leading Anglican. Simply Good News and Surprised by Hope are books that every serious disciple of Jesus should read.
And where would we be without John Wesley? Wesley never intended to break with the Church of England, but I believe God used that parting of the ways, just as he used the differences between Paul and Barnabus to form two mission teams. (See Acts 15:36-41)
Pentecostals emerged from the Wesleyan tradition. And when we consider the impact of Pentecostalism in South America, Africa, and many other places, we cannot help but thank God for the emphasis on the Holy Spirit, which has been a powerful factor in the success of Pentecostals globally.
I was blessed to be exposed to the Charismatic Revival in the 1970s. The spiritual growth of my father during these years was a life-changing event for me. And while once again, I have some differences with my Pentecostal and Charismatic brothers and sisters, they have contributed greatly to my maturity in Christ and my theology of the Holy Spirit. I highly recommend Gordon Fee’s books for serious disciples. Begin with How to Read the Bible for All its Worth. His commentary on the New Testament book of Revelation is not for the faint of heart, but it is vital in this day of wild and fantastical speculation concerning future events in our world.
We miss so much by focusing exclusively on the teaching of those within our particular Christian tradition. And sadly, such an exclusive focus limits our spiritual growth and understanding of what it means to follow Jesus.
Knowledge is power, so they say. But when it comes to our growth and maturity as Christians and churches, knowledge is the key to building healthy relationships with others and with God.
In Christ,
Dan
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