LABELS

Labels, as they apply to each of us, are the major source of division in the world today. They are used to divide us on every level imaginable, from our individual families to the collective family making up humanity as a whole. We are all guilty of using labels to identify one another in a myriad of ways. Consider for a moment the divisions these labels cause in every area of our lives. We relegate people into boxes, categorized by gender, race, nationality, education, social standing, political affiliation, appearance, personality......the list is endless.

I believe the most dangerous label of all is "denomination", as it pertains to our religious beliefs and  practices. Our world is so divided by religion. It is estimated in 2018 that there are 4,200 different religions in the world. That is incredible! Why do I find that to be such a frightening statistic? Because, as a Christian (here I go labeling myself), I believe God hates division. In this great, big universe (uni =one, verse = song), humanity is meant to live in harmony and unity under the leadership and guidance of it's creator. We are breaking down the very fabric of our world through our divisions, our intolerance of any and all who are not "one of us".

Now, I know there are many religions that do not believe in the Holy Bible as the word of God or Jesus as the Son of God and savior of the world. I cannot speak to those. Christianity, encompassing 32% of the world's population and 2.5 billion adherents, has division enough to fill volumes without focusing on the other 4,199 religions on the planet. What is the primary cause of division within the Christian churches? Denomination!

Denominations are a man-made invention. It is estimated by some that there are more than 30,000 different denominations of Christianity today and some sources believe this number to be much higher. Jesus didn't come to earth 2,000 years ago to build religious institutions but to build a bridge  between God and man through a relationship. Religion is as old as man's sojourn on earth. The dominant religion in Judea at the time Jesus came into the world was Phariseeism, which was developed 300 years prior to his birth. The Pharisees had instituted many man-made laws and commandments into their religion, replacing God's instructions to the nation through Moses. This was  in direct violation of Torah, in which they were told not to add to or take away from any of the words given them by the Almighty at Mt. Sinai. (Deuteronomy 4:2). Throughout his ministry, Jesus vehemently spoke against and violated their customs and traditions, by which they held the Jewish population in bondage, exposing their so-called authority over the people as worthless. He came to set his people free from religion and into a relationship with his Father. He came to reveal the true character of the Father, that of never-ending love, mercy, grace, forgiveness and acceptance. Rather than bondage, Jesus brought us a message of hope and freedom, a message of oneness with our heavenly Father.

The accurate definition of the word "church" is not a building, but the collective body of called out, set apart believers in Jesus.....his body.  According to Ephesians 4:13,  we are to grow in the unity of the faith and knowledge of the Son of God, unto perfection, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:4-14 "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many."

1 Co 12:27-28  "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues."

God intends the body, though many members, to work together as one unit for the edification of all. However, what the church has been more than successful at for almost two thousand years is dividing the body up into pieces. Labels, under the guise of denominations, keeps believers sequestered in their own camps, where "never the twain shall meet". Each focuses on one gift of the body, i.e. miracles, prophecy, healings, or tongues for example and dismisses anyone not holding to their particular doctrinal viewpoint. This ought not to be. Unless the collective body learns to work together, sharing in the unique gifts each individual member has to offer, it will never be fully effective in sharing the gospel with the unbeliever. I don't care how many "mega" churches we build, if we don't build up the body according to the Word of God, removing the labels that divide us, we will never grow into the spiritual house Jesus sacrificed himself for.