By Stuart Knechtle
Sometimes people question why there are so many denominations in Christianity. Doesn’t this show division and maybe even a lack of love between believers? Denominational differences span all the way back to Jesus’s day. The religious group known as the pharisees often set up rules and regulations to divide people. In the gospel of Luke Jesus sends out a few of his disciples to heal people. These disciples see a man who is healing people in the name of Jesus Christ. Frustrated and upset the disciples return to Jesus and tell him about such blaspheming.
In a powerful response Jesus tells the disciples that though this man was not part of their group, he is healing people in Christ’s name. Jesus sets up a rule to love people of different denotations and to steer clear of any type of self righteous tribalism. In some of his last words before going to the cross Jesus prays to the Father in John 17 that “they would be one as you and I are one.” Jesus wasn’t against denominational differences as long as denotations were steeped in unity amongst the diversity. This is a crucial lesson that we as a community can learn more about today to make the world a better place.
Stuart Knechtle is the Youth Pastor at Grace Community Church
