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Thursday, March 26, 2020

Can celebrating the past show our one-ness?

Ephesians 4:3-6 - Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirt through the bond of peace. There is one baby and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

One.

I wonder, in light of this passage, how should this shape the way Christian denominations treat each other’s practices.

I can think of numerous practical reasons churches have split. When I say this, I’m not referring to elements of belief - even though these will affect our practices - but the activities we do and the way we do them,

Baptism.
Communion.
Church governance.

These are the trinity of division.

We have split over the age and method of baptism.
We have split over the frequency, elements and significance of communion.
We have split over the eligibility, authority and longevity of leadership.

But, we are meant to be one.

So, do we show this in our practice?

Do we acknowledge the faith practices of other denominations? 
Or do we belittle them?

Do we insist that things are done “our way?”
Do we insist that they are done the “right way?”

I’ve been baptised, confirmed and married - twice.

Each of these things in my past can be challenged, even discredited, by those of different denominations.

I wonder, what message the church would send about the overriding unity we have in Christ if we openly acknowledge, celebrate even (!), the meaningful steps of someone’s faith journey in the past, just done within the tent of another denomination?

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