The Tap or the Water?
‘I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned’ John 15:5,6
There are biblical activities we can do that allow Christ’s life to flow in our lives. These activities are sometimes called “means of grace.” They are spiritual disciplines. They are taps through which the life giving water of life, Christ’s life, can come to us.
This is the fourth devotional that looks at ways we can confuse the tap with what comes out of it. Previously, we warned:
(1) don’t elevate anything God uses to bless your life with the rich, refreshing life of Christ that comes through that instrument
(2) don’t elevate anyone God uses to bless your life over the rich, refreshing life of Christ that comes through that person.
And finally:
(3) don’t elevate any instrument God uses above the blessing that comes through that instrument, so what comes from the instrument becomes the grounds of fellowship.
The following story is not only fictitious but the denominations mentioned have probably changed from when it was first told.
A Baptist pastor who honestly believed the Baptists were the only right and true denomination, was preaching up a storm one day. In the middle of his message he called out ‘Hands up those who are Baptists here today.’ It looked to the preacher like every hand went up, but to be sure he said ‘Hands up if you’re not a Baptist.’ One solitary hand went up of a little old lady visiting that day. ‘If you’re not a Baptist, what are you?’ the preacher asked. ‘I’m a Methodist’ she answered. ‘Why are you a Methodist?’ he came back. ‘My daddy was a Methodist and his daddy was a Methodist so I’m a Methodist.’ Not to be outdone the preacher asked ‘Well if your daddy was a moron and his daddy was a moron, what would that make you?’ With a twinkle in her eye, she called back ‘A Baptist!’
I’ve known people who honestly thought their denomination was the only true and right one.
What denomination was the great apostle Paul in? Thankfully, he wasn’t part of any!
Being actively involved with a local church is mandatory for a Christian (Hebrews 10:25). But believing you can only enjoy fellowship with those of your denomination is untrue and unbiblical. Our fellowship is around Christ (1 John 1:3).
Fellowship must never be determined solely by common beliefs about baptism, the Sabbath, eschatology, food laws or a myriad of other less consequential areas. Our fellowship centres in Christ.
Remember Augustine’s famous saying: “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity”
Rufus Mosely, a gifted Bible teacher from an earlier era and a man who decided not to eat pig meat was asked: ‘If I eat pork will I still get to heaven?’ Mosely replied ‘You’ll not only get to heaven, you’ll get there a whole lot sooner.’ What a great balance between truth and love!
To listen to this message, download in MP3 here.