Sunday (D.V.) I will preach on Ephesians 4:1-6. The focus in this passage is to walk worthily of our call in unity. Thinking about this stress on the unity of the Body of Christ, we must mourn over the number of denominations.
Our response should be to strive to unify in a way that is worthy of our call. Here is a careful statement by Bryan Chappell. Notice that he not only emphasizes unity, but also stresses that we are not permitted to unite with those who abandon the truth.
We are called out of our separateness not to do as we please, but to direct our faith and practice toward the truths given to us by the testimony of Scripture. This calling also causes us to honor brothers and sisters of other churches and denominations who unite their thoughts and actions to Scripture. In doing so we must affirm that there are differences that are honorable but not vital; there are believers with whom we differ on matters important, but not essential; and even as were are correcting ourselves by Scripture, we are called to seek ways to come together with those who are with us in their testimony of one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. What we are not permitted to do is unite ourselves with those who have abandoned these truths affirmed in Scripture.[1]
[1] Bryan Chapell, Ephesians, 184-85.
This is so timely for me. We’ve been talking this weekend about not being so protective of our carefully measured doctrinal stands that we isolate ourselves from the Church as a whole. I so appreciate those who think carefully and help protect me from incorrect doctrine. But then, I’m rarely all the way correct, and I sometimes wonder who I’m being protected from– other Christians like me? I join you in grieving over denominational divisions.