Denomination Domination

“He’s not a tame lion.” – C.S. Lewis 

“I feel like I am losing my salvation to follow Jesus,” Sean agonized. We had chosen to leave the denomination that we both grew up in, that our parents had grown up in, and that our grandparents and great grandparents had fervently believed in. God called Sean to be a pastor and then promptly changed Sean’s religion. What do you do when you’re called and then He says, ‘but not in this denomination though.’ And nobody really understands, least of all you. You are no longer legitimate to your family members, peers, mentors, and congregants. The church, that sent you to its college, you reject after a year. You go where God is now calling you to go. But, your church is horrified at you; heartbroken. The church that cared for you, loved you, taught you, comforted you, feels betrayed. After all they supported you in ways you’ll never know and encouraged you in so many ways that you do.  To them, you’ve lost your faith if you leave the denomination. You feel they might be right, but you can’t quit Jesus.

This was pain and confusion and we fought it out, wretchedly. We were so scared.

Lord, we are all your people. Why aren’t we united; likeminded? You are asking us to do this… why can’t you convict our church, that what we are doing is Your will?

He reminded me of the Cross. We must pick up our own and follow. No matter what.

He reminded me of the crusades. Same God. His Children killing one another for a title they already own. We hate each other over banners and titles we already own, because of lies, we believe, that were never true. Under Christ, there is no longer a “them” and “us.” There is only “We” collectively. Yet, we collectively, agree on so very little. What is the best way to serve God? How should church service should be organized? The fundamentally vital, How do I become who God created me to be? These are not questions we ask ourselves very often, mostly, they are answers we give on behalf of others. And we give them confidently!!  

Pride, arrogance and judgement are full on display as we rip each other apart in the name of Christianity and the non-believers turn away in disgust (who can blame them) with bumper stickers that say, “Jesus, please keep Your followers away from me.” Jesus wept.

“I feel like I am losing my salvation to follow Jesus.” So scary. Makes you physically sick, as all your friends and mentors from that denomination tell you, that you are wrong, and you have lost your way. As you are coming to believe something new. You just discovered the New Covenant! You just discovered Grace! You are moving into something deeper with God. They are scared for you. You are scared for yourself. They say you can’t hear God anymore. They tell you they regret not “working with you” on doctrine more. You are now branded a “False Prophet.” They tell you what God is saying to them and it’s totally different then what God is saying to you. What do you do? Are you hearing from the Lord? How can you tell? For us, it was all about scripture, but it was all about scripture for them, too. And thus we land in the thick, muck of Christianity’s ‘schisms.’ Same Jesus, same book (sometimes) totally different interpretations and people excommunicate you for it or at the very least tell you that you can’t hear the Spirit if it doesn’t agree with their comfort level. I suppose we are all guilty of this. If God wants unity what is really going on with this stuff? How is this bride ever going to get it together enough to take a shower, comb out her beautiful hair and get that dress on, when we can’t even collectively decide if our body needs a shower at all? Why can’t we stop ourselves from dancing with the devil over doctrine?