Drop The Names

Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ,

I created this blog to write down my thoughts and vents in words.  I posted several and never thought anyone would take the time to read them.  I stopped writing as the demands of pastoring the church here in Cloquet, MN, increased.  For some reason, the posts I wrote in the past have drawn recent interest, with many positive comments and requests for new posts.  It just so happens that the Lord has placed a thought in my heart that I have shared with local and distant pastors.  In most cases,  I have received a “That’s an interesting thought, but it is unrealistic.” 

I will now share this thought with you and let you be the judge.  Is it interesting, is it realistic, is it achievable, or have I crossed over and could be seen as a  “nutter” as they say in England?

How it began:

I was studying the seven churches in the book of Revelations in preparation for a series I would teach at the church.  As a pastor,  I  focused on how the observations Jesus shared about each church could help the church I pastor.  I wanted to identify areas where we need to grow and mature in Christ.  However, as I studied, things jumped off the pages I had not seen or picked up on in the past that dealt with the Christian church in general here in the United States.  One of the items that struck me was this:

• The churches were identified only by location.  Apparently, all the believers in the community were part of the same church body and did not separate themselves as we do presently with separate denominations and individual church names.

Jesus stated that the church should be one body in unity.   The Epistles support this concept.

• John 17:21-22 NKJV  that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.  (22)  And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:
• 1 Corinthians 12:12 NKJV  For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.

Unfortunately, here is what I presently see that causes grave concern. 

• Denominations, including the non-denomination denomination, are a powerful dis-unifier!  It tells all that attend that particular denomination that they are different from other “Christian” groups.
• Then there are the individual church names that remind me of “marketing tag lines.”  We  become proud of the particular church we attend on top of the denomination we are a part of.  This system breeds more and more separation from other different assemblies.  Our identity becomes more associated with a particular church, even within the same denomination! 
• If this is not bad enough, many assemblies even make members sign a membership agreement with details of the unique doctrines in addition to Christ they must agree to, and another layer of separation has been added!

Imagine the stumbling block this creates in the heart and mind of a person that the Lord is calling.  They cannot help but ask themselves:

• What denomination is correct?
• What church is right?
• Who can I even ask, as all are vested in promoting their own group?
• What if I choose the wrong one?

When sharing my thoughts and concerns, here is what I have been told.

We are different groups and all members of the same body, and we are just called to do and offer different focus areas.  Unfortunately, this answer does not pass the scriptural “sniff test” as far as I am concerned.  The individual denominations and individual churches almost always act alone in all they do and rarely, if ever, incorporate other assemblies, let alone another denomination.  There are even denominations within denominations that won’t even work together.  Are we not doing what the apostle Paul states in 1 Corinthians 12:21 NKJV  And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”

Here are my thoughts and suggestions.

First, we need to focus on what unified the early church and strip away all the secondary opinions and views we have that have turned into doctrines as essential as Jesus Christ and the salvation offered in Him.  Our unity will be based on Jesus Christ, salvation and eternal life offered through Him, and committing to follow His teachings, becoming disciples of Jesus Christ, and showing our love towards one another, and showing the world our love, belief, and trust in God the Father and His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ by living His commandments.

Second, we should all drop the names off our churches and replace it something like a sign of a fish, “Ichthys <><” or maybe we all have the same name, like “The Way”.  We would still all continue meeting in our same locations.  Can you imagine how things could change overnight?

• We would all begin to see that we are part of the same Body of Christ, the One Church.
• Competition and proselytizing would be minimized.
• Interaction between locations should increase in our efforts to edify the body and save the lost.
• It would significantly simplify seeking answers for the lost person.
• What a statement that would make to the lost and our communities!

I can only imagine the resistance and reasons that taking our names off our church buildings would create from church and denominational leaders.  Think of what Satan himself would say! 

The fact is, something needs to change because we are losing ground with the way we are presently doing it.  If you don’t believe me, look at the statistics and polls that show what is occurring here in America.

Let’s not be part of the insanity that Albert Einstein was reported to have said, “ Insanity Is Doing the Same Thing Over and Over Again and Expecting Different Results.”

Your thoughts…

Pastor John