What’s the Real Cost of Denominational Division?
If you live in the United States, you are familiar with denominations of Christians disagreeing with one another, at times even bickering. We have all seen the churches right next door to one another but representing slightly different Protestant denominations. It’s no fun. There are not many winners but it is an artifact of our time.
One of the biggest reasons we often discourage this denominational division is because we believe it is an obstacle to evangelism. How can you convince your neighbor to come to church with you if half the conversations in your church are about why the other church two miles away is wrong?
I’d suggest that the real cost of division is equally severe to the members of the churches themselves. Christianity is exciting and dynamic. There are Christians all over the world and I have found them to be some of the kindest, most generous people I have ever known. When your church members are myopically focused on the differences between your denomination and whoever their rivals are, they are missing out on the true treasures of being a Christian.
I attended a Reformed seminary. It was a terrific, challenging place. I don’t know that I still agree with all that I was taught but I agree with a lot of it. However, I don’t have a lot of interest in bickering about Puritan theology. There’s just too much other good Christianity to be lived, too many fascinating people to meet and I don’t know that the bickering does much more than fuel my ego.
If you are reading this and you consider yourself a warrior for your denomination, might you reconsider your position? Hold your convictions, be generous in relationship and teach what you believe is correct. But if you are a Christian leader, take care to not lead your people into being disciples of a denomination. We are called to be disciples of Jesus Christ and are especially friendly to those who are our family in the church, no matter their stripes.