Christianity Today says there are about 38000 different denominations/categories/sects of Christians. That is probably a liberal number, but still, that SPEAKS of the glory and mercy of our God.
Baptist. Methodist. Lutheran. Presbyterian. Pentecostal. Non-Denominational. Catholic. Emerging. Vineyard. Mennonite. Etc, etc, etc.
There is no other religion that allows so much diversity among its believers. And that is an AWESOME thing.
We make up a body. THE body. The body of CHRIST.
But something has been bugging me lately. We’ve been looking in the mirror a little too long. I find myself doing it all the time. Maybe it’s the nip/tuck culture we live in. But, I see a lot of people who just want to do some cosmetic surgery on THE BODY OF CHRIST.
Here is an example…
I saw a short video of this Christian guy pleading with us to just simply LOVE everyone around us (our ‘unsaved’ friends). Love wins. To puncuate his point, he showed ‘bullhorn guy’. Bullhorn guy represented the Christians, and we all know them, that seemingly run right over peoples feelings with the message to repent, that your sin is taking you to hell.
My point is, the guy in the video was preaching a message of love while at the same time throwing other Christians under the bus. Maybe bullhorn guy was thinking that the most loving thing he could do is try to rescue people from hell. I’m not saying I would try the same way he is, but maybe he’s playing his part and I need to play mine.
Yes, I realize I am being one of those Christians who look at other Christians and think ‘Hmmm…a little plastic surgery might not be a bad thing.’
So, here it is, it is o.k. to look in the mirror and offer a little correction from time to time. What we need to realize, though, is that God is perfecting his body. It’s going to be ok. Let’s go a little easier on each other. Love wins.