John 14:6 Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."I met a chaplain today that, upon learning I was a pastor, asked about my church and denomination. When I said I was Southern Baptist, he quickly sought to "bridge the gap" by saying he used to be Southern Baptist. I asked him one simple question that really took him by surprise:
"What happened?" (I learned later that he was Pentecostal, which explained his sudden distance and unwillingness to further the conversation.)
The guy that was with me had made quite an impression on this chaplain before; and he proceeded to tell me all about how denominations don't matter, only following Christ matters. This sounds very respectable on the surface. When we got to discussing the Bible and various translations, we came to the NIV's use by the Jehovah's Witness to prove that Jesus is NOT God. Elsewhere in that version one can prove HE IS God. My friend didn't even know that JW's don't believe in the deity of Christ.
Serving in the Army has revealed a couple of things to me regarding my ministry. First of all, there seems to be a strong move toward ecumenicalism in the officer corps. That is, the very truths that have made denominations different are either ignored for the sake of unity, or unknown because of ignorance. The biblical knowledge many have may be somewhat reasonable, but their doctrinal understanding of that knowledge is too often lacking.
The passage here reveals that Jesus IS the way, the truth and the life. Truth really does exist. Variants from the truth are lies. Denominations may not be the things to follow, but the truths they teach should be embraced or rejected based on their accuracy to the Word, their adherence to the teaching of Jesus, and the advancement of their practice by Christ, Himself. Jesus is the TRUTH. What He says, what He does, and who He is all mark the differences in denominational teaching. Which of these is worthy of being sacrificed for unity? Let not the Army be divided on the battlefield of bullets; but let the truth unite us also on the battlefield of the Spirit!
Check out my blogs:
Just-a-Thot - Devotional thoughts - http://justa-thot.blogspot.com
As I See It - Biblical perspectives on current events - http://asiseeit10.blogspot.com
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Pastor Greg