When Unity is not Best

A couple of weeks ago our pastor mentioned at the beginning of his sermon that he was very frustrated with the “My church is better than your church” attitude. God calls us to unity, and clearly this arrogance causes division, not unity.

He gave a couple examples of churches that some people look down on as being less Biblical. He shared about one church that has everyone drop to their knees at the name of “Jesus.” The reference being Php 2:9-11

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

A second church practices the washing of feet. This comes from Jesus example and words at the last supper. In John 13:12-17, we read:

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

I have been meditating on this and praying about it for over a week, because I guess I am one of those who in my heart has condemned other churches for not being Biblical. Over the past 10 years I have come to the deep conviction that there are true followers of Jesus scattered throughout the denominations. However, some denominations make it easier than others for a person to develop a true saving relationship with Jesus.

However, God has given me a calling and a message that is meant to challenge our understanding of what it means to be a Christian. God burdened my heart with the fact that there are MANY who think they are going to heaven who are not. Read Mt 7:21-23.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

I believe that incorrect teaching – in fact teaching contrary to what the Scriptures say – encourages people to think they are going to heaven when in fact the Bible says they are not. This bothers me a more than I can express! I get very angry at churches that teach falsehoods about God, salvation, and what God considers acceptable behaviour (churches teach too strict as well as too lenient on this one).

What does this have to do with the examples I gave at the beginning of this post? I do have a problem with the churches/denominations my pastor mentioned, because I believe they have strayed from Biblical truth. Not that any one denomination has Biblical truth down pat!! However, the examples my pastor gave of their obedience to Scripture bothered me. Why? Because they are mere acts of legalism if the heart is not behind it.

Anyone can join the congregation in kneeling at the name of Jesus, and then go home and live in a way that totally disregards Jesus. I have a particularly hard time with this denomination because it is where my husband fled when he decided to live openly gay. I am not a gay-basher. I have said it many times in this blog that Jesus' harshest words were to the religious people who point fingers of judgment at others, while basking in their own self-righteousness. (I've been praying about my heart in this matter -- Jesus please help me not to be self-righteous!) Also, in the old testament, the same punishment was prescribed for anyone participating in sexual relations outside of marriage. In North America these days, there are more people in sexual relationships outside of marriage than within marriage.

So, I have a problem with this denomination because it made the deliberate decision to ignore the clear teaching on homosexuality in order to fit in with the modern culture. Look at what the Scriptures say about this.

You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. (James 4:4)

These are God's words, not mine. When a church or a denomination chooses friendship with the world over the truth of Scripture, they have chosen to be an enemy of God. The legalism of bending their knees at the name of Jesus means nothing if it is simply a ceremony on Sunday mornings. The true test is whether that person obeys the heart of Scripture the rest of the week. The tradition to kneel at the name of Jesus is not wrong or bad. It could really make a soft heart responsive to the Lordship of Christ. I think my own congregation could really benefit from more of this physical sign of submission to God. However, if that is the only way you bow before the Son of God, you really haven't bowed before Him at all.

The second example our pastor shared is from a denomination that does not even believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven (talk about friendship with the world!). Yet, they wash feet in obedience to Jesus' command. This one really frustrates me. Jesus was constantly breaking religious traditions that had been piled on top of God's laws. I see this foot washing ceremony in the same way. Jesus washed dirt and manure off the feet of his disciples. In our world today, our feet are really quite clean. Maybe a little sock fluff or some sand, but nothing really all that bad. Did Jesus really mean for us today in our ultra clean culture to wash people's feet? If he did – I think it would be the feet of the homeless or the diabetic, or the person with diseased feet.

We can become legalistic so quickly. “Oh, this is a Biblical church because we obey the teaching to wash feet – and your church doesn't!” What was the heart of Jesus' command? It wasn't to institute another religious ceremony! He was showing us that we need to be willing to do the dirtiest job for the least deserving person. THAT is obedience to His command, not participating in some ceremony. The ceremony is not wrong or bad – but if you think that ceremony replaces the requirement to do the dirty job that no one else wants to do – you have totally missed Jesus' point.

Have I ever washed anyone's feet? Yes, I do so on a regular basis. My brother has many medical issues that affect every part of his body including his feet. His feet have callouses so deep they have caverns, and toenails so thick that no ordinary nail clipper can do anything.. He cannot bend to reach his feet, so I am the one who takes care of them. Yes – it is humbling for both of us. Have I obeyed Jesus command? I'm starting, but I have a long way to go – Jesus washed manure off the feet of His betrayer. I can't think of a really dirty job that I have done for an enemy.

I believe very strongly in unity – but not with those who have made the deliberate choice to deny God's truth in order to be more popular.

This post is not meant to be disrespectful to my pastor in any way.  I appreciate him and respect him very much.  He chose to leave one of the churches discussed in this blog because it had made a decision to put popularity with the world above Scripture.  That decision was a very costly one for my pastor.  I respect his desire to root out the arrogance in us (including in my own life) by pointing out the "My church is better than your church" attitude.  I had to examine the self-righteousness in my own life before I could write this post.  There are areas that I still need help addressing, and my pastor is great at helping us deal with our sin in repentance and grace!

Father,

Thank you so much for the privilege to call You Father! You created the heavens and the earth and yet You consider us the crown of Your creation! Jesus left heaven and came to show us the way to You. He died to open the doors of forgiveness. He prayed for unity among His followers. Oh, Father, we fail so horribly in this area. I, too, am guilty. Give us a heart of unity with other Christ-followers! However, Lord, help us also to be aware of the non-Biblical teachings that are overtaking the North American church! Give us a firm foundation in Your Word that we may know Your truth. Thank You so much for Your Word, Your Faithfulness, and most of all for Your Grace! To You be glory and honour and power for ever and ever! Amen!