We have the right knowledge. We have the correct doctrines. And instead of pulling up a chair at the table of fellowship for people of other denominations, we pull up a chair at the table of intervention. Because those who don’t think like our group need to be straightened out.
Can I dream? Of course I can … it’s my blog.
I dream of the day when the gospel overrides personal theological preferences or convictions. I dream of the day when names on the outside of buildings don’t cause us to label, categorize and divide. I dream of the day when it is commonplace to have as many Baptists as Church of Christ in a Church of Christ worship (or vice-versa). Shoot, I long for the day when Baptist, Pentecostal, Methodist and Church of Christ aren’t words God’s people use at all. And I dream of the day when God’s people don’t see salvation through the lense of their denomination. Instead salvation is a work of the gospel alone.
To sum it up, I dream of a day when God’s people see past the facade and realize denominations have nothing to do with the gospel and everything to do with Satan’s eternal plan.
Maybe my dreaming is unrealistic nonsense. But Jesus said nothing is impossible with God. And I believe him.
4.) Socio-Economic Wall
This barrier is getting higher and stronger. The gap between rich and poor is widening, and there is an increasing tendency to divide on the basis of financial capital.
Let’s be real. This is a wall the church has accepted as normal. Oh, the rich and poor show up on Sunday and worship together. But that’s the extent of the interaction. After all, what do the rich and poor have in common? What do the rich and middle class have in common? Those in each group understand each other’s struggles and have more common interests. So, they group together. It’s easier that way.
But this misses the point of the gospel. There are no groups for those in Christ. The world should look at God’s people and say, “Why are those guys or girls hanging out together?” A CEO and a burger flipper? A stay at home mom and a mom who works three jobs to feed the kids? That’s weird.
Yes, it is. But this is the gospel. It transcends socio-economic walls. No, it DESTROYS them.
And until God’s people see one another through the lense of the gospel, stereotypes and stigmas will dominate both sides. The rich will always be greedy money lovers. The poor will always be lazy and irresponsible.
Stigmas. Walls. The work of the Accuser.
_____________________
I always wondered how Satan could coerce a group of people to believe Jesus deserved a punishment reserved for the worst of criminals.
Then I went back to Luke 23, and I saw it. Luke 23:2 says the crowd “began to accuse him (Jesus).” The greek word for “accuse”?
“Catagorein.”
Yep, you guessed it. The same root word from which we get the English word “category.” The same root word found in Revelation 12:10. Satan manipulated a group of people to believe Jesus deserved death (even though he was without sin) using his eternal blueprint. The same method he used on me as I categorized the Mennonite family at Zaxby’s. Build walls. Categorize. You are superior. Divide and conquer.
Stepping through walls isn’t easy. But believe this. When we reject Satan’s plan and work to usher in God’s plan, we aren’t doing this alone. God is with us. He is fighting for us. He is working in us. And when God works, Satan has no chance. Because, as Jesus said, “Greater is the power in us than the power in the world.”
What do you think? Are there walls I didn’t mention? How do we break down these walls? Leave a comment and let me know.
I love you all. To God be the glory forever. Amen!
