Jesus prayed that we be ‘one’ but for almost 2,000 years the
Christian Church has experienced divisions, splits, dissension and even heresy.
How can we possibly be ‘one Church’ when there is so much
division? Some churches have only male
ministers while some allow females. I’ve
been in churches where their services last over two hours; in other churches,
you can be out in thirty-five minutes.
Some churches baptize babies, some only adults. There are seven sacraments according to some but only two according to others. I actually know of one that counts thirteen!
Raising your hands for worship may be in vogue but in some
churches it’s considered rude and inappropriate. Music is likely one of the biggest
differences and churches vary from having no instruments to having worship at
98 decibels.
While I could go on and list pages of differences there is
still hope that we can be “one”. Deciding that we are One Church is still a
choice despite what appears to be stark differences. The choice is to look at our differences as
interesting diversity within “One Church” rather than examples of different
churches.
Since 325 AD, the “One Church” has had a statement of faith,
the Nicene Creed, as the litmus test of Christianity. The thirty-five lines in the Creed are the essential
beliefs that define what we can refer to as “orthodoxy”……not as the Greek or eastern
branch of Christianity but in the true sense of the Greek word “orthos” meaning
“right” or “true”.
The Nicene Creed doesn’t mention the length of worship
services, doesn’t mention the role of men or women. The Nicene Creed doesn’t mention music at all
and only has one word on baptism……not nearly enough to divide us. The Nicene Creed is primarily about Jesus
Christ, the Son of God and His role in the redemption of mankind. We call this the gospel, the one thing that every
Christian Church can agree on.
We can be “One Church” when we embrace the diversity within
the church and rely on the “One Gospel” to bring unity.
