When Labels Become Louder Than Jesus | Finding Unity in a Divided Church

What Denomination Are You?

Welcome back to another episode of the Beauty in Burnt post. Can I ask you a question? What's one of the first things Christians ask each other? What denomination are you? But have we ever stopped to ask if that's the right question?

Today isn't about pretending our differences don't exist. It's about asking what should define us first. John 17:20-23. I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.

I pray that they will all be one just as you and I are one as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. I have given them the glory you gave me so they may may be one as we are one.

I am Am I reading the same thing again? No, this is okay. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. This is one of Jesus's final prayers before the cross.

A Southern Habit

So, do y'all experience this? Because I feel like especially in the south, it is a very normal thing. It's like, "Hey, I'm Jade and I do this and oh, do you go to church anywhere?" Yeah, sure. Okay. What denomination are you?

And I just really started thinking about this the other day because where we are, there's literally a church on every corner. Yeah. And it is all different kinds of churches. But I'm like, why does it matter? Yeah. It it I mean, we're on the Bible belt. We're in the Bible belt.

So it's it's you know it's like you always see a church and I do think one of the biggest things people ask is what church do you go to? Oh what denomination is it?

And while I think there could be some importance to that like I do uh it depends on the teaching and stuff and if you're going to like a mega church. Yeah.

But why that's the first thing when you're getting to know somebody, you know, meeting somebody for the first time and figuring out their relationship with God, it starts with usually not what has God put you like gone through with you or how did you connect with Jesus or any of that.

It's like, oh, what church you go to, why, and what denomination are you? And that kind of tells me about you. Yeah. When in reality that tells you about religion. That is very true.

So, what does that really distinguish about you knowing the fact that you're, you know, Baptist, Presbyterian, whatever? Like, what does that help me know about you?

Seeing Through Our Own Lens

And I think that that's such an interesting question because if you're not, let's say you say that you're Catholic and I'm not.

when you tell me you're a Catholic, I'm going to go off the knowledge that I know about Catholicism and what I've experienced with Catholics or I have I've experienced with that church.

So, it could be a negative or it can be a positive, but because I don't know, let's say what it would be like to be a Catholic or practice Catholicism versus non-denominational and what we practice within that church.

I am seeing you through the lens of what I perceive and leaning on my understanding of what Catholicism means.

Um and so I think it's important after you ask the if you are going to ask the question of what denomination you should be asking that not just a oh okay that's good to know but why why made you you know did you start from a young age what made you decide that you were fascinated to learn this way and so because everyone there's a bunch of different denominations there's a bunch of different ways people interpret the Bible do their practices certain you know um require like requirements for some denominations.

So getting to learn it if you're going to I I just think if you're going to ask that question, it's important to be somewhat open-minded instead of, you know, if someone's what denomination are you and you say wait it is and they're like oh well I'm this and it's like should a baby be sprinkled?

Should we be dunked? Like should we you know jump up and down with flags? Like what should we be doing? You know, it's that doesn't The Bible is the Bible. Yeah. And we all have one common goal that we want to know the Lord, be saved, and go to heaven.

And that's our common ground. And that really should be all we're concerned about. I agree.

Self-Interpretation vs. the Holy Spirit

I think what is a little bit difficult and not to get too theological when I say this but when you talk about self- interpretation it it can be kind of confusing cuz like you know Jesus even shared with the disciples there's a reason that he was speaking in um parables because they might not understand the full thing.

So when we when we we because we we are supposed to interpret it but through the Holy Spirit to help us not just self interpretation. We're not supposed to land on our own understanding.

But when we interpret um when we are reading scripture, we need to also realize kind of like with with Jesus and his disciples is the way that we're receiving it might be different for multiple people. They might hear one thing from the spirit, someone else to the other.

And sometimes it it can be self interpretation. It can be pride. And so I think the importance past denomination is to see what does scripture say about the church, about the body, your temple, what you're supposed to be doing.

Um because some churches, if if we were to read a certain if we were to interpret it ourselves with my Bible, it would be different than one denomination and the ways that they do that. So how are they interpreting it?

You know, but are you going to say, "Hey, I believe that the Lord wants you to be dunked." And because your religion denomination does not do that, you're shunned to me. Like, you know, I don't I don't like you. Like, that's that's the biggest point of this is the unity part.

Like he knew we would all be a little bit different. We would all do things a little bit different. But in that difference, there is still supposed to be unity. Yeah. Like we cannot be against each other.

Like we cannot be on social media bickering back and forth about our different views on things. Yeah. Because what does that show the unbelievers? Exactly.

When Judgment Becomes Church Hurt

But it also it's when you have that posture towards people of okay well you don't do it my way you don't do it the way I'm comfortable with you're wrong completely. That's how church hurt can happen too.

I know some people since moving here because you know when I was in Atlanta I was already going to my own church.

Uh there were a bunch of other churches because we're still in the Bible belt, but being here there's a lot more especially because we're in a you know a more intimate secluded area than the city.

So hearing some people here of you know I went to a church that did this and I and I'm thinking in my head where does that fall with scripture? Like where are they even getting that?

It's it's for me if I was to encounter that and they were to say something that for me is like so off, you know, off of the grid of scripture, I would ask them, okay, where are you getting that um posture?

Where are you getting that information from before I just go into you're wrong. Yeah.

um because that can be pride on my behalf to think I know better because I'm in this denomination and I've learned this and I do think that there is a beauty with there can be a beauty with different denominations.

I think you can learn some, you know, some denominations I would say practice or or or are more involved with um sharing their sins and being able to be more expressive and having advocacy for what they do, talking to other people about it, making sure that they have um you know, someone that they can lean on.

I think sometimes other denominations are more hush hush about that. So I like to see beauty in different things rather than seeing the negatives first. But I do believe that as followers of Christ that should be what's most important is that we are supposed to be one.

Yes, we are supposed to be formed in the church. We are the church. And so how are we going to be able to be the church if we are only looking at what divides us? Yep. That is huge.

But it's like, you know, we talk about a lot lately, like one of the biggest things that I've learned is that you really have to get to know people before you can judge them. Yeah.

And it's like hearing gossip about someone like you were saying in the beginning, and then instantly judging them based on that instead of getting to know their story. I think the same can be said for denomination. Yeah.

like you've been through these certain things, you've heard these certain things, and if somebody tells you, "Hey, I'm whatever Pentecostal, then you instantly judge that whole denomination based on everything you know about it, instead of like going to the church and seeing for yourself and getting to know that we're all Yeah.

the same." And I think something that's really important because I've done it before.

I I have I was involved with a Pentecostal church at one point and you know it was a little bit different than non-denominational and so I did get to see things that I had to be open to not just immediately close out to be like you know what it is there is biblically sound stuff here I'm not used to it but let me just see how it is and until for me at that church and I'm not saying with every Pentecostal church but there were some things that happened at that church where I felt the Holy Spirit in discernment to be like I do not think that my faith is going to continue to grow here.

I just don't think that there are some things that I align with. Yeah, that's okay. And I respect I still respect everyone that goes there. I don't think that they are in a wrong church because of what I've experienced.

But when people say to you what denomination they are and you immediately turn your cheek, I don't think that's fair. I think if you're even not willing to go to another church because you have a church home, that's fine.

But doing your own personal research and seeing what the Holy Spirit tells you and if you get discernment, that's one thing than just being like, you know, I don't know enough about it, so I think you're wrong. Well, and that's not even necessarily the do denomination.

Like it could just be the church leaders in that particular church. Like you could go to one Baptist church and be like and then go to another Baptist church and be like, "Oh, I feel it." Like I feel it here. Like this is it. Oh, I agree. Yeah, I agree.

I mean, I think that there are some churches that fall under the same denomination have completely different teaching styles and I would call some of them the another denomination because of how they teach. I wouldn't even think that they're, you know, what they are.

More Than a Label

So, I don't think it's again denomination and talking about denominations is religion. It's a label. It is a form of religion. I personally think that now what it entails in the denomination is where you start to have your relationship with Jesus.

But when you have a label I I am a non-denominational Christian. Okay, that's a that's a that's a religious term, but I am also a follower of Jesus Christ and this is what I believe and that's what's important. It's not just the label.

I I mean to me I I do fall under the line of being a non-denominational, you know, in a non-denominational church, but that doesn't necessarily mean that I'm going to agree with what the church does.

So, one non, you know, it's hard to say over and over again, one non-denominational church cannot be for me and one can. Yeah. And sometimes it's because of how the Holy Spirit works in you and what the pastor preaches.

And so I mean I've been to Pentecostal and Baptist and even like a Pentabaptist where it's a mix of both and um Southern Baptist like I have tried out different ones and I just know what works best for me and how I need to be um talked to spiritually by a pastor.

Um, and so I just think that that's really important is we need to look past just the religious term and see am I going to a church where the people around me are not just religious people but they're actually investing into scripture and what it says and are they letting it embed in their lives past on Sundays.

Um, so I think that that's really important is I is your church one that would divide with other churches?

Like would you be open to having like would your church be open to having other sharing first sharing the gospel to other people and even other denominations but would they just immediately put their hand out and say no we're not going to I don't agree with you we're we're going to be going on our separate ways down a separate path even though we believe in the same God or would it be like why do you believe that way that does happen a lot because I think if Jesus was in a room with one person of one denomination and another and the whole entire time it was a debate and he's just kind of like, "Okay, y'all are going back and forth, but I'm still at the center of y'all's life.

You both worship different ways." Oh, that's fine. But am I really in your heart? And if it's a yes and you truly believe that and you're not putting another idol or person that you believe above God, I think that that's more important than okay, what songs do y'all sing?

Is it hymns or is it do you have drums? Do you like what kind of you know is it a choir like that? It it can matter as a personal opinion and how it feeds your soul. I do believe that.

But when it comes to biblically aligning scripture and if if it's biblically sound, that's what's important more than just the label.

When People Stop Going to Church

I was talking to someone the other day and one of the biggest things that I've noticed is these conversations come up about people who have been to so many different churches and they've experienced church hurt and they just haven't found anything that they really connected with.

So because of that they have chosen not to go to church period but they are still a Christian. And to me I question that because God is not a god of division. Satan is the one who causes division.

So I feel like if you are feeling that way, you might want to question why you feel that way because the Lord calls us to community and to being around other believers. So, you know, if you're sick one Sunday, you can't go to church, fine.

But you need to be in a church or surrounded by people. Even if someone's got like a home church going on and there's a bunch of you gathering around, you just need to be around likeminded believers. You can't say I cannot find a church at all.

Especially in the south, you cannot say you can't find a church that you don't like because they're out there. Yeah. So, if you're staying away from church, you might want to do a heart check and see what's really going on because I seriously doubt it's them.

It's probably you if I'm being completely honest. I mean, I've been struggling with that personally. I know. Sorry. No, no, I was like, "Oh, call out." No, I'm okay.

Um, it's something I'm struggling with personally and I have done a lot of I would say heart checks like Jade's talking about. I think it's really important to see, okay, what are you offended by?

What is something that's making you uncomfortable or what's something that you are not aligning with? Is it is it a theological uh issue or is it more of a personal issue?

And so, you know, that's something I've been personally navigating because like I said, I've been to a bunch of different churches.

There's people that I watch online that are pastors that I connect with so much, but unfortunately they live not in our state and I'm not, you know, I'm not idolizing them enough to move over there. Yeah. But they are ones that every single time I hear them, you know, I connect.

So, it's just hard because for me like with whatever church that I would ever go to if I were to move again or whatever, um I would want a church where I feel heard but called out because I don't want to feel validated all the time. Yeah.

I want to have conversations that it it the the air in the room gets thick. um not in a way to you know fault everybody but to be like okay let me seriously reflect on myself. How can I how can I benefit the kingdom of God?

A Season of Struggle

And so you know a huge part of that has been my mental health recently and just not feeling um in a right mind I guess. So I've been doing a lot of you know being at home watching my stuff but struggling in general with my intimate relationship with God.

So then that also makes me struggle with my relationship with a church and with community because you know the enemy has been attacking me more and so he's trying to been he's he's been trying to keep me in the dark and clearly um you know like we were talking about in our last podcast where two more are gathered God is near and so I think that that's really important.

Uh, I also think it's important because scripture says, you know, if you have an issue, go to somebody about it. Yes. Um, and if they aren't willing to, you know, listen or take in what you're saying, you you continue to go to them.

And if it's just not enough, you take them to the church. And, uh, because that's the temple. So, and that's pretty much saying the church, like the the people of God now are going to be dealing with that issue, not just a personal person.

Um, and I think that that's important because when you have issues where you feel bound by something or, you know, you're going through, let's say, church hurt or things like that, you can talk to somebody about it.

Um, but I do think it's important to eventually get back to church, especially if you do have issues, which I don't know one person that does not have issues. Everyone has a everyone has something going on.

Um, so I think it's really hard because, you know, I just feel like in this season there's a lot of negativity in our world and a lot of evil and a lot of unknown.

And so for me, I'm just trying to navigate what do I need best for my uh fulfillment of the Holy Spirit in me and getting the word of God. And I think it changes through seasons. Sometimes I need to hear a certain word.

Sometimes I need to lean on worship a little bit more than just a sermon. Um, but right now I'm just trying to navigate what I personally need.

And so I think like Jade was saying, if you are struggling with going to church or you're struggling with finding a church, definitely self-reflect, but also do see, you know, is the community there real enough to where they could sit with you in such a dark time?

Um, can they can can you meet people that will be real enough to show show their scars? Show that they've kind of gone through stuff, too.

Cuz I do think a lot of churches in general, I think a lot of churches will put on their best and then pretend like they've not gone through anything. And I think that that's that's hard. Well, that is one thing that I really had to get used to. Yeah.

at our church is people being so honest and having everything out there because coming from my background, you didn't do that. Yeah. And that was a lot for me. But now I appreciate it so much more because it helps people to feel not alone.

But we have to remember that churches are ran by people and these people are imperfect people and there is always going to be something that you disagree with because the pastor's not perfect either and that's okay.

But you know, we have walked through a season where we even questioned if we were where we were supposed to be, not because of the church, but because of some things that happened to us that hurt us. And we tried other churches.

But you will know if you're where you're supposed to be because even though we were going through things, we tried other churches and we knew God didn't want us to leave where we were.

And it might have been hard and it might have sucked a little bit, but he got us through it and we're better for it. And I'm so glad that we stayed where we are. Yeah. So, yeah, I think it's just listening to what the spirit tells you because I think that that's so important.

Um, you know, discernment of the spirit and what it is able to make you feel in your body, I think is just something that you can like I could have an opinion of something, but when I my soul feels it, that's when you know where you're supposed to be.

Diving Into Scripture

And I think that that's so beautiful. Um, so yeah, let's continue this. Just so y'all are aware, just giving you a preface. This episode is going to be full of a lot of scripture. So, just buckle in, baby. Okay. So, Ephesians 4 1-6.

Therefore, I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling. For you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. love.

Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one one body, and one spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all. Mhm. Yep. Yep.

I think on that I think some people can stumble on where it says one faith because I I think like we're talking about religion and not uh and denominations can fall under oh do you believe in God or not? Do you do you have the right faith?

I believe and you some denominations can do things that are not biblically aligned. Yes. Like some of it is so out of pocket, but I believe if you believe in Jesus Christ and that he died for your sin, then you are saved. And baptism is a reflection of that.

I think you should get baptized, but I don't think if you're not, you're being condemned to hell or you're not going to get into heaven. Yes. If in your heart you believe that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, I think that's the one faith.

I don't think the one faith is going through multiple steps and then you're saved. I don't think it is, you know, for me, and this can be controversial. I don't really care, but that you believe in somebody that wrote about God more than Jesus himself or God himself.

I think, you know, I think that that can be hard.

Um, and you know, I have some friends that are of uh certain beliefs and I would say denomination that is different than mine and that I don't agree with some of their things, but I have sat down and had conversations with them and still love them, still am friends with them.

They believe Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior. And at the end of the day, I can go circles around them about how that person's an idol and that's not real and that's not real.

But I'm not doing that because I know that in their heart they truly believe Jesus and the true Jesus. I don't mean that they think it's Jesus or they think it's this God, but that Jesus Christ did die for them. Yeah.

It's the core and the heart of the belief and where it's coming from. And some people can believe other things around that that alter what we believe because we could say, you know, you believe that but you're doing that that that that. Okay.

Now you're starting to act like a Pharisee cuz you're looking at everybody else and what they're doing wrong, but you can't reflect in yourself of saying, "Okay, well, you're in that denomination, but you're falling in this place. You're not treating this person nice.

You have an anger issues." So, I think it's really hard when we start going down that path of, "Okay, well, you're in that denomination. I'm in this one. So, that means that I'm doing all this and you're not." When in reality, you might not be doing all of that. So, I don't know.

I think just realizing that the one faith doesn't it's not saying one denomination. Yes. But I just think that that's that's important. Well, and I mean even in different parts of our life, we kind of have different beliefs.

Baptism, Faith, and Logic

Like I would say several years ago I would have probably sat here and said I don't necessarily believe if you haven't been baptized in the waters that that you're saved.

Now I don't necessarily think I agree with that so much because I do know people who have gone down in a moment where there's like just a few people gathered and they ask the Lord into their hearts and I I think that is equally as saved as anyone else.

So it just depends on where you are in your walk and yeah and I mean for me and this is where I I'm not a logical person. I'm a very emotional person. I go with my heart but it's very important to also have logic. So I remember you know because I grew up non-enominational.

So you do get baptized but it's not a life or death. I mean it's, you know what I mean? Like you believing is the most important. Yes. Uh you being saved. So I remember I asked my dad, you know, do you have to be baptized to go to heaven?

And he was telling me, you know, um about the last moment with Jesus on the cross and the sinner next to him just saying, "Lord, please remember me." And he said, "You will be with me in paradise." He did not get baptized.

He did not get off that cross and go go drown in some water, get back up, and then go to heaven.

No, he believed in his heart and Jesus recognized it to the point where he was like, "Man, you see how much I'm doing and just your faith will get you into heaven and I will remember that." So, I think that that's really important too is, you know, again, I think there's certain um denominations that go down the path of you have to do this, this, and this.

And I don't agree with that unless it is in scripture and it is New Testament Jesus because there are Old Testament things that people still believe um you know with like dietary stuff. Um but when Jesus came he made it new. Yeah. He broke that he is the new law.

Um so I don't know. I all I'll say is when it comes to your beliefs please put logic behind it as well. Don't just go to, you know, YouTube or Tik Tok to look for the facts on it. Look in your own Bible of evidence that Jesus says certain things. Disciples say certain things.

God says certain things. And you go off of that.

You don't go off of what, oh, well, you know, you go off of TikTok and someone's like, "Well, I interpret it like this and this is what I do because I believe in Jesus." But it's like, okay, if you read in your Bible, it does not say that. Yeah.

One Mind, One Purpose

Feel free to fact check your pastor, too. Yeah. Cuz I mean, yeah, fair game. And different versions of the Bible have different meanings. Totally different. You have different language barriers too, which is very important as well. So, okay. 1 Corinthians 1:10 through13.

I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind. There's that one again, united in thought and purpose.

For some members of Khloe's household have told me about your quarrels, my dear brothers. This is Paul talking.

And sisters, some of you are saying, "I am a follower of Paul." Others are saying, "I follow Apollos or I follow Peter or I follow only Christ." Has Christ been divided into factions? Was I Paul crucified for you? Were any of you baptized in the name of Paul? Of course not. Mhm.

So, I think that's a big part of this, too, is that I don't know. I feel like we can almost worship the leaders in our churches too, the pastors, you know, that's tough. I think in general there can be a lot of idolization.

And I think in certain, like I said, in certain denominations, there are people that are put on a pedestal that one should never be there and two are not Jesus. Yeah. It's really hard.

That is something I've thought a lot about lately is how much weight we put on our leaders shoulders. And it's really hard to let go of that.

I mean, like I said, these are imperfect people and they are just people and they're going to make mistakes and it's sometimes really hard to look past that because they are the leaders in our church and for some reason we think they should be perfect, but I don't know speaking of um imperfect.

Idolizing Leaders and the SBC News

So, the only reason I'm bringing up is just for for context. So, in the news lately, um, Southern Baptist Convention news, I pulled this up. One of the reasons this has been on my mind is because of this recent news.

And the Southern Baptist Convention's decision regarding churches with women pastors. Whether you agree with that decision or disagree with it isn't the point. What caught my attention was how quickly the conversation be became about two camps, two labels, two sides.

And I found myself wondering if we've become better at identifying one another by our denominations than by the fruit of the spirit like we said. Yeah. I just like I don't know. I don't know.

I don't I don't want to go down that rabbit hole, but it just it hurt irks me a little bit. I don't think you want me going down that rabbit hole because I have Well, you said it's not a conversation for us to have right now. Yes.

Essential Doctrines vs. Secondary Issues

These are the foundational beliefs that define historic Christianity. Essential doctrines. If you remove them, you're fundamentally changing the gospel or who Jesus is. Think who is Jesus? What is the gospel? And how are we saved? That is what matters most.

Jesus is Lord and the son of God. Jesus truly died and rose from the dead. Salvation is by God's grace through faith, not something we earn. Humanity is sinful and needs salvation. There is one God, Father, Son, Holy Spirit.

Scripture is God breathed and authoritative for teaching. Paul actually gives us a great example in Galatians 1:6-9. When people were distorting the gospel itself, Paul wasn't saying, "Let's just agree to disagree." He was extremely serious about it.

Unity does not mean sacrificing truth. And I guess when it comes to um interpretation, I mean, that's just that's really the point of it all. Um these are beliefs Christians can sincerely reach different conclusions about while still agreeing on the gospel and following Jesus.

So that is the main thing that we are trying to reach here is just that we are all followers of of Jesus. Yeah. I mean I I agree. I think I believe everything you just said is important in relation to who is Jesus, what is the gospel, and how are we saved.

And I think it's hard because you every denomination can believe Jesus is Lord of our life and believe in that.

But I think there are it can get rocky because I do think some don't believe in the trinity and there are different things where it's like okay if these are the core things that the Bible is teaching us you know that there is one God um Jesus was was both son of God and man things like that and we're reading it um what scripture is and how you get salvation um and what the father the son and the holy spirit are If you believe Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I think you also do need to understand that God gave us Jesus.

Yeah. Two different I mean, you know what I mean? And then he then gave us also the Holy Spirit. So I think it is very important. We do need unity, but for us to get there, we also do need the three. Not two, not one, but three because it's very important.

So, it's hard because for us to get to that unity, we are going to have uncomfortable conversations with people that might not entirely agree that the Trinity is three or that Jesus was both son um of God and man at the same time, but we are not supposed to sacrifice sacrifice the truth of the Bible.

So we still need to share that with people and it can be in a loving way. But I think for us to not put a label on denomination, not put that above following Jesus, we need to talk about Jesus and what scripture says, point blank period.

Disputable Matters

So So does your disagreement with someone instantly make them not your brother or sister in Christ anymore? Right. Romans 14 says, "Except the one whose faith is weak without quarreling over disputable matters.

One person's faith allows them to eat anything, but another whose faith is weak eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not.

And the one who does not eat any everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them." Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall, and they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

One person considers one day more sacred than another. Another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God.

And whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For we live for the Lord. And if we die, we die for the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

For this very reason, Christ died and return to life, so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. You then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat.

It is written, "As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before me, every tongue will acknowledge God." So then each of us will give an account of ourselves to God, not your brother or your sister, yourself. Therefore, let us stop passing judgment on one another.

Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of your brother or sister. There are hills worth dying on because Christianity without the resurrection isn't Christianity. Christianity without Jesus isn't Christianity.

But then there are issues where two people can open the same Bible, genuinely love Jesus, genuinely seek the Holy Spirit, and still come to two different conclusions.

Those disagreements matter, but they don't make us enemies because denominations often form around secondary theological distinctions while Christians across those denominations still confess the same essential essential gospel. Unity doesn't require uniformity.

Spiritual Maturity Looks Different for Everyone

I'm not saying doctrine doesn't matter. I'm saying Jesus matters most and we need enough humility to recognize the difference between defending the gospel and defending our traditions. That's good.

One thing while you're reading that that kind of popped into my head when it was talking about how we can read the same Bible, we can love the same Jesus, but we can interpret and get different things from it.

I think something is so important is to realize everyone is on a different spiritual maturity path. Yeah.

Um, you know, a baby Christian, quote unquote, someone that just got saved, might not ever have known Jesus, is now learning about Jesus, is not going to be on the same path that you are maybe 50 years of knowing Jesus, participating in church, actively, you know, involved with the Holy Spirit.

it it's different for every single one of us. And so I think it's very important not to poke a finger at someone that is genuine and I mean genuine. I'm not saying they they believe but genuinely are trying to search for an intimate relationship with God and the Holy Spirit.

You know, if someone's just putting that title on them and doing whatever they want, I'm not saying I agree with that whatsoever.

Um, but if someone's genuinely trying to search for it and they're they're longing for Jesus, they're wanting that relationship, they're trying to figure out the whole idea of faith or maybe they're coming back to the faith after years of having church hurt.

Now they're back and they're trying to figure out how to have a relationship with God again without thinking about other people. Whatever the case may be if it's genuine, I think that's what matters in the spiritual maturity.

The Holy Spirit works differently in everybody because we're all made differently. We're all made in the image of God and we're not all made the same for a particular reason, I'm assuming. But life would be pretty boring if he knew us before we were formed in the womb.

He knew how to create us, how we would be wired, what we would go through in life. And everyone is different. So I think everyone's walk is not going to look the same. Every denomination is not going to act the same.

But one thing that doesn't change is the Bible and what God speaks, what Jesus did, and what he died for. Out of that, I think there's a lot of imperfection. I think there's a lot of flaws because it's out of it's out of the Bible. It's man. It's man now.

Humility Over Being Right

So So ask yourself, have I made my denomination part of my identity? Am I willing to learn from believers outside of my tradition? Do I speak about Jesus more than I speak about my church? That's a tough one. That's a really tough one.

And I'm I'm letting y'all loose on this one because I'm passing through a lot of the scripture because I know it's a lot. But um Philippians 2 1-8. Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the spirit?

Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another in working together with one mind and purpose. Don't be selfish. Don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.

Ouch. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave us gave up his divine privileges.

He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on the cross. Mic drop. What you got to say about that?

I mean, the closer you get to the Lord, the easier it will become to put others above yourselves. I know that is so hard. It is so hard to do that, especially when you are ticked off of somebody.

But I think too I have found some there are times when you do need to go to other people and you do need to fix those problems. But there are also times where I feel like the Lord wants you to leave stuff alone and walk away because as humans we can make things a lot worse. Yeah.

So, I think you need to discern that and just show some love. Yeah. We got to love everybody. We got to love the Baptist, Pentecostal, non-denominational, Presbyterian, Methodist, first. I mean, all there's so many love everybody. Yes. We are all We all just want Jesus.

Living It Out

More of Jesus. And that's the main point. Yeah.

I think stop this it's hard for me but stop reflecting on yourself first think about others think about loving others more than yourself at times too and I think that's how ge I think people don't think enough about what what would what how would you act if Jesus was right in front of you in front of someone that isn't your denomination it does or there might not even be a faith WJD how are you going to act and that's just something I think about more is like the person I am at church doesn't change from the person I am at a church.

I'm going to be as real as I am in church. I'll say what I want to say to somebody in church and I'll say it out of church because my heart I'm not here to make it look nice. I'm not walking by faith has never Jesus never said it was going to be easy.

So for me I mean you can put on a face in church, you can dress super nice. I mean I do that. I still like to throw on my fits, but if I'm not feeling good, I'm not going to pretend. Oh, yeah. I, you know, like I just want to keep it real in general.

And, you know, when it comes to my faith, I'm going to express that to people that I have been saved by God. I have truly been changed by Jesus. And I'll share what he's done in my life, and I'm not afraid of that.

But when it comes to somebody else, I'll share that love with them, too. But I'm not shoving where I'm at or what church I'm at or my belie my denomination down their throat. They can go where they want, but me planting the seed is the most important thing.

So, I think a thing a thing to think about, are you planting a seed or like are you removing the dirt being a stumbling block to where Yeah. Are you removing where the nutrients is supposed to grow or are you going to plant it?

Are you making it harder for somebody else to connect with God? Spraying weed killer on. Are you That's a better one. Here we go with the plant analogy again. Are you spraying weed killer on something that you should be spraying fertilizer? Yes. Yes. That's Yeah. Mhm.

Because it's truly if y'all who believe in Jesus know how he has touched your life in just a minuscule second, you can do the same thing for somebody else. But you can also say something in a minuscule second to somebody that can make them turn away from God forever.

Yes, the power is within the tongue. And everything you do flows from your heart. Scripture says that. But you also need your you can read in Proverbs, you need you need wisdom. You need understanding to speak and to live life. You need both.

You need your mind, you need your heart, and you you need your soul. So I think just moving forward for people. Try and have a different perspective on other people's lives because you don't know what they've gone through.

You don't know what kind of faith that they've been shown, what church that they've been shown, what attitude or posture someone has given them about Jesus and the faith. So be gentle, be understanding, but don't lose sight of what scripture says.

Don't lose sight of who Jesus is, what he did, who God is, why we have scripture. Just don't lose sight of what you truly know. So, yes, ma'am. Yes. I love my local church. I love faithful pastors. I'm thankful for the people who taught me scripture.

This isn't about a abandoning convictions or pretending doctrine doesn't matter. It's about remembering that before I'm anything else, I am a follower of Jesus.

Before you're Baptist, Pentecostal, Methodist, Presbyterian, Church of Christ, Lutheran, Catholic, or non-denominational, if you surrendered your life to Christ, you are my brother or sister.

Closing Prayer

Maybe it's time we stopped asking each other, "What denomination are you?" and started asking, "Tell me what Jesus has done in your life." Bye guys.

Lord, we come to you now and we ask for you to help our brothers and sisters have the right mindset, have the mindset to realize that unity is the most important thing. It's not about what church you go to. It's not about what denomination you are.

It's about leading everyone to meet our Lord and Savior. It's about saving the souls that are walking down the wrong path. That is why we were put here to further his kingdom, not to cause a greater divide.

Lord, we know your heart and we strive to have your heart and your mind full of love, extending love to those that we meet instead of hate and division.

Lord, please help us this week to have the strength and knowledge to reach others as you put them in our path, to have words of wisdom to reach those that you put in our path. Lord, we thank you for being a good father. Amen.

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