Posted by
Matthew Wells on Thursday, February 15, 2007 3:25:34 PM
There has recently been a lot of questioning of the character of Mit Romney and his suitability to be our president simply because of the church he belongs to. So we have a Mormon running for president. Would it be so bad to have a leader who is strongly pro-life? Who believes in the importance of teaching morals to our children, and isn’t likely to show up for work drunk or hung-over?
Regardless of how many Christian religions there are; in the big picture, there is only one true Christian church. To think that true church is the denomination you belong to is not only vain it is absurd.
Things won’t likely turn out as depicted in the Southpark episode—a bunch of disappointed Christians standing in hell, hearing the news that only the Mormons made it to heaven. Yet there are many who follow this line of thinking.
If a man spent his entire life in a small village, isolated from the world and knowing nothing of the teachings of Christianity; yet lived his life in service to others and in unknowing obedience to the Ten Commandments would Christ send him to everlasting destruction for not being baptized or proclaiming in words his faith in Jesus? I don’t think so.
“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” 1 Cor 1:10
We will be known and rewarded for our works, not for our devotion to a particular pastor or denomination.
“For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?” 1 Cor 3:3, 4
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Col 2:8
Instead of blanket statements like “Mormonism isn’t true Christianity” or “Catholics are too ritualistic” or “everyone who eats pork will go to hell”, can we accept the fact that faith is necessary and good works are rewarded? And then go from there?
To think that someone must belong to your church to receive God’s grace is insulting to our Lord. Where is that in scripture? Likewise, to assume that a person will not see the Kingdom of Heaven because he belongs to a church that you don’t agree with is to be lacking in humility. And it is approaching idol worship.
The traditions of men say to pray publicly. Jesus said, “pray to thy Father which is in secret” Mat 6:6. And by example he went off alone on a mountain to pray. The traditions of men say to berate other religions. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” Mat 5:9 We can’t cast aside the old man in place of the new if we worship the traditions of men.
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Cor 2:12-14
None of this is meant to minimize our watchfulness for false teachers, but we will know them by their fruit. (Look at the fruit of Islam.) Instead of acting with strife or sedition we should act with love, and meekness, and temperance.
“For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.” 1 Thes 5:9-13
Matthew Wells