WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2021 HOLY WEEK THOUGHTS

 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2021 HOLY WEEK THOUGHTS / LOVE ONE ANOTHER

Yesterday I wrote about denominations.  Almost all have some historical basis.  Martin Luther disagreed with some of the practices in the Catholic Church (like buying your way into heaven through indulgences), so he led a movement that became the Lutheran Church(es).  King Henry VIII of England wanted children but wanted (needed?) to divorce his wife(s).  The Catholic church said no, so Henry broke off and started the Church of England - Anglican, Episcopal; John Wesley had some street meetings and broke off from the Church of England (not quite), and there were the Methodist and Salvation Army groups.  Other places had other people, that protested some doctrine, or tradition (or Tradition).  And, there are numerous Baptist groups (see below).

Today, I’m out on a limb a little with “authority” with religion. Some breaks (above) may have been justified, and some may not have been.

We have seen those people who seem to have an understanding of scripture and break off to form a splinter group.  Two such groups were the James Jones (and Jonestown group), and David Koresh (and the Waco group).  Sometimes the leaders of such groups get a “Messiah Complex” and take on the position of “a spokesperson for God”.   And, they start to predict the end of the world and the end times.  

It seems easy for a person to get an idea and run with it.  In the business world, we would call these people Entrepreneurs - but in these cases, they crossed some kind of imaginary line and became “sects” / “splinter” groups, and seemingly ran afoul of standard operating procedures.  

Thus, my look at “authority”.  One of my groups way-back-when was a quasi-independent Pentecostal group.  Every six months, a pastor would come through, talk with the leadership team, lead a service, and try to make sure everything was going smoothly.  Human beings seem to want to break out from authority (kind of “when the cats are away, the mice will play).   

I had a pilot friend talk about this once.  When flying he set his compass on North and adjusted his route accordingly.  But, true north and magnetic north are slightly different - and actually, Magnetic North has been moving around lately!!!  So, if you are flying based on magnetic north, over a long flight you will be off a little.  And, being off “a little” can grow to be off “a lot” over time.  So, if you first think something like reincarnation might be interesting, then eventually you espouse that concept as a ‘doctrine’ that might be a sect or splinter group.  

Some Biblical comments about false doctrines, splinter groups, and separation.

“As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience, and a sincere faith. Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk.”  1 Timothy 1:3-5

“Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales” 1 timothy 4 -7

“If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions, and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.” 1 Timothy 6:3-5

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(Hmmm - godliness is a means to financial gain!!  I’m going to have my own television, YouTube channel, and ask for donations!!!)

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

“They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers opposed the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.”

2 Timothy 3:1-9

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I could go and start my own denomination, or my own religion.  I could say that “God led me to do so” - and who could say that God did not lead me in starting my own denomination?  (And, as mentioned before, ask people to support my ministry so I can drive a new BMW!!!)

So, where is the “authority” principle?  

In the past in the more formal aspects of Christianity were councils that determined the various creeds.  But, still divisions occurred.

I was looking at the following from the Baylor University Baptist Study program.  In some respects, all of the following have common beliefs and yet have separate organizations.

Alliance of Baptists
American Baptist Association
American Baptist Churches USA
Baptist General Convention of Texas
Conservative Baptist Association
Convention of Atlantic Baptist Churches
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
General Association of Regular Baptist Churches (GARBC)
National Association of Free Will Baptists
National Baptist Convention/USA Inc.
National Baptist Convention of America Inc., International
National Missionary Baptist Convention of America
North American Baptist Conference
Pentecostal Free Will Baptists
Primitive Baptists
Progressive National Baptist Convention
Seventh Day Baptists
Southern Baptist Convention
Virginia Baptist Mission Board

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Now, this isn’t trying to suggest that these groups are not good, but it does seem that we can magnify differences.  An old “joke” (that isn’t so funny), is that one group/ congregation/ denomination sang four songs in their worship service and part of that group wanted only three songs - so split off from them.   

Years ago, when slavery existed in the United States, black people started their own groups.  In particular, was the AME church - the African Methodist Episcopal group. There were (in New Haven Connecticut), Catholic Churches that had a Polish orientation, Irish orientation, and Italian Orientation.  When joint activities and some parishes closed, many people thought they were losing their identities.

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To finish, religion seems to be important in many people’s lives - but unity and love across some of the religious boundaries seem hard to do.  Homework - go out and befriend somebody with a different religious tradition (and go out and befriend somebody with a different political viewpoint!!!)

LOVE WINS!!!

HUGS!!!

Karen