May 29, 2020
1 Corinthians 12:9-13 … “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” vs. 12
For centuries the Church has acknowledged that it is one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. There is little argument among Christians that these Marks, or Attributes, have a solid foundation in the teachings of the New Testament, and most theologians would agree that they are a fitting definition of the Church. Despite that basic agreement however, we’ve had a dickens of a time figuring out just who is included in that ‘One Church.’ Too often followers of Jesus have allowed their differences to define them and have paid little attention to Church unity. There are some denominations today that believe fervently that the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church is made up only of their congregations, and everyone else is on the outside. The good news is that those beliefs are becoming more rare in our world; most Christians have come to understand that the umbrella of inclusion is wide, and that they have brothers and sisters in Christ from a multitude of backgrounds. In fact, some are beginning to see that all people on earth, no matter what their beliefs and convictions, are a part of the one body of Christ. No one is excluded, and the same Spirit works in and through all God’s children. It’s a radical thought, and not all can accept the notion of a universal Christ, but what a blessing it is for those who can.
Thought for the Day: What happens if the Church becomes too inclusive?
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