The sin of irreverence

The whole world is said to be under the sway of the wicked one and no one knows exactly who to believe, even the majority of those who profess to believe in Jesus Christ have been led astray with various and strange doctrines thus deceiving themselves and others with them.

There is without any shadow of doubt that, a huge cloud of deception is hovering over the entire world and there are only a few people that are not overshadowed or overwhelmed by it. Imagined for example, Jesus Christ in praying to the Father on behalf of His disciples prayed and said, "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me" (John 17:20-23).

I therefore, humbly beg to ask the question are we perfect in one as Jesus Christ prayed that we should be? If we are, why do some call themselves Catholics, Baptists, Evangelicals, Pentecostals, Seven Day Adventists, Church of God, Methodists, Lutherans, and Anglicans Jehovah Witnesses etc.? And every denomination has its pet doctrine that is contradictory and conflicting to that of the other thus causing divisions, confusions and segregations among brethren’s and worst of all families while purporting to be worshiping the same God? Can this be normal! Most people seem to be happy and quite content with this precarious situation.

The apostle Paul echoed a similar sentiment to Christ's prayer when he wrote; "Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." (1 Corinthians 1:10).

Again, I beg to ask the question, how can we be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment when we are so doctrinally divided with each having their divergent and contradictory doctrines? So the question is, is Christ divided? Or which one of these denominations was crucified for us? Furthermore, sectarianism which is the idea of belonging to a particular sect or denomination is deemed to be both sinful and carnal.

Therefore, the greatest and most urgent concern we should all have as believers is, why are there so many sects and denominations when we have been admonished, “ to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, because in effect, there is only one body and one Spirit, just as we were called in one hope of our calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us all”  (Ephesians 4:5-6).

In addition to this, the apostle Paul admonished us by saying. “According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1Corinthians 3:10-11).

The sad reality however is that, despite the plea to be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment, most believers seem quite content to continue serving God in such a divisive atmosphere as though that this is the norm.

To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph