Does It Change Things?

There are some things, as Christians, we let consume our thoughts, distract us from God, and divide us, that are not evil in of themselves but can be counter effective. Some of these topics include, women in leadership, free will vs. predestination, traditional worship vs. contemporary worship, and etc… etc…

You and I definitely have our thoughts/beliefs/stances on these topics and others like them, but there are some foundational things that ALL Christians MUST agree on. The calling of ALL Christians is to spread the Gospel, the Good News of Christ in what ever context God calls them too. We are all called to go into all the nations furthering the Kingdom of God. Our reason for living is to Glorify God.

Now that that is established, my questions are this; Do these topics that we have spent decades arguing about, as Christians, Change our calling? More specifically, Whether God chose you or you chose God, does it change the fact that you are called to further the Kingdom, to tell of the Good News of Christ? Whether you worship with good ole Baptist hymns or with guitars, drums, and lights, does it change whether or not we are called to the ends of the earth?

I definitely believe that we should think about and discuss these topics because they help us shape our understanding of God and it helps us mature our faith. It is counteractive, though, if we let these topics distract us and divide us like it does to so many people.

The other dangerous direction our human nature takes us with these topics is pride. I know so many churches and people who will not work with people who believe differently on these topics and that is just ridiculous. How much more would God’s Kingdom be furthered if FBC anywhere would do ministry alongside/with First Presbyterian anywhere?

If churches worked together instead of just trying to be the “better” church in town, you would see entire cities come to live in the ebb and flow of the Kingdom.

Oh how I long for that day!