Unity in the Holy Spirit
by Grace M. Sarber
Winter 1999
A visitor to CHM recently commented, "I grew up a specific denomination, but until I understood the power of the Holy Spirit, I was totally unaware of the 'Body of Christ."' This man, like so many believers who work with, volunteer with and come to CHM, learned that God's goal for His Bride is not denominational. He does not see us as Episcopalian, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist ... He sees us as His children.
"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — Jews or Greeks, slaves or free — and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many" (I Cor. 12:12).
Denominations can be very important in terms of worship. How we worship our Lord is an important aspect of our relationship with Him, how we know Him. Different denominations choose to worship God in different ways.
I am speaking of mainline Christian churches. There are so–called "Christian" groups and cults that are not part of the body of Christ because they do not believe the basic tenets of the faith, as laid out in the Nicene and Apostles' Creeds — such as the belief that Jesus is the Son of God and came to die for our sins so that we may have eternal life, the belief that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, the belief in the Triune God, etc. Groups that do not believe in the tenets of Christianity are not options for a Christian to consider as a place of worship.
However, those groups that do agree with the basic tenets of the faith but who simply disagree with other, secondary issues which do not affect the foundation of the faith are all part of the greater Body of Christ and will share with Him in the Wedding Feast as described in the Book of Revelation. We are one body, and God calls us to be a body. Especially in these turbulent times, God seems to be calling us together in His Name in ways He has never done before.
"I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and though all and in all" (Eph. 4:1–6).
God has so blessed Christian Healing Ministries in that it is a neutral place where people of all Christian denominations can come together. It is a place of healing, and God is using it even to heal denominational barriers. It is a blessing to sit down with God's children who belong to a variety of denominations and pray together as one body, to be working together toward one goal as one body, not divided along denominational lines but united through the power of the Holy Spirit. Roman Catholics work alongside Protestants of all kinds and those from non–denominational backgrounds as part of the one true Christian body, made so by the ultimate sacrifice of our Lord — which was for us ALL.
"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body though the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it" (Eph. 2:13–16).
I remember a dear woman who volunteered at CHM as a prayer minister before moving to another state. One day a few years ago, as the staff and prayer ministers — Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, Episcopalian, AME, non–denominational, Presbyterian — shared in the Eucharist this woman began to weep. She later told us that she had never taken Communion together with so many different denominations. She received a great healing that day, and we all were blessed by it as the Holy Spirit once again demonstrated His gift of unity.
"The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread" (I Cor. 10:16–17).
At CHM, we stick to the basic tenets of the faith, the common ground upon which all Christians agree. We do not allow the enemy to divide us into camps. We have realized that certain teachings can be divisive, if one is not careful. For example, when we teach on generational healing, we do not get bogged down in denominational differences regarding the subject. We simply bring the teaching to the fundamental point: God can and will heal those things passed down through the generational lines.
I encourage you to begin, in your own life, to break down denominational barriers. Remember that you do not have the blueprint on being a Christian. Your church is not the only group of Christians in the world. God has brought you to that particular church, whether through upbringing or choice, because it is light for you and your worship preferences. But who are any of us to say that we are saved and other Christian groups are not? "Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart and a humble mind" (I Pet. 3:8).
Perhaps you have family members who belong to another denomination, and this has divided you as a family. Talk to them about your common ground. Pray for them. Pray with them, if this is possible. Know that God would not have you so divided. His ultimate will is for you to be muted in Him and through His love: "How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!" (Ps. 133:1).
The visitor who came to CHM and made the comment about having been unaware of the Body of Christ for so long had it right. God, through His Holy Spirit, had revealed something very important to this man: He is all about unity, not division. He yearns for us to come together in Him as one Body.
And why not? Heaven is not compartmentalized. We will not be divided into denominations when we get there. It would be so much wiser to begin to get to know our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ now, here on earth, so that when we get to heaven we already know our family. Besides, if we do so, God will more likely be able to powerfully use us as a Body to His glory while we are here. And we might be blessed by it. Wouldn't that be something?
"Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to winch indeed you we.re called in the one body. And be thankful" (Col. 3:14–15).
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Grace M. Sarber is the Editor and |
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