“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
— John 17:22-23
It was the summer before my last semester in college and being almost at the age of 40, my going to school full-time, working lots of hours, teaching Sunday School at my church and some preaching, were all beginning to take their toll. I hesitated to sign up for the class but it was a one day, one credit offering, so I decided to go for it. I am so glad I did because it taught me something I’ll never forget!
Our professor, Dr. John Eggleton, a wonderful man, had invited pastors or representatives from seven different but well known Christian denominations, including my own, to present their doctrines to the rest of us aspiring Bible students. They were each given 20 minutes and we were not allowed to ask any questions (probably to prevent arguments and waste time). That took up the whole morning.
After lunch, we gathered again but without our guests, to review their presentations. Dr. Eggleton pointed to the large chalk board in the room where he had listed every church represented in one column down the side and across the top he had inserted as headings, some of the most popular core beliefs of Christianity: THE BIBLE, GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, SALVATION, THE CHURCH, END TIMES, BAPTISM, COMMUNION and HELL. He then asked us to check off their stated positions on each one with the idea to see if in unity we could present a coherent and precise statement of faith for Christianity to others.
What we found was eye opening. It became apparent that each doctrinal heading had lots of variations in practice. For example, should Baptism be performed by immersion, sprinkling or affusion (water poured on the head)? Or how about Communion? Do the elements become the body and blood of Christ literally, coexist with the body and blood of Christ, or are they symbols of both? And how often should you take it? Weekly, monthly or quarterly? How about End Times—Pre-tribulation, Mid-tribulation or Post-tribulation? Is your head spinning yet?
Again, different views—and on and on it went.
“How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony” (Psalm 133:1). Well, not totally on that day! The conclusion we reached was that if we were trying to determine the exact core values of the Christian faith that everyone must believe in and that we could clearly explain—there was no conclusion. There was no consensus all across the board—EXCEPT FOR ONE.
Can you take a guess which one it was?
All seven denominations had all agreed on one doctrine exclusively: SALVATION was through Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12) and there was no other way to God except through Him (John 14:6). Welcome to John 3:16. Aren’t we glad? — Maranatha!
“God is good all the time. All the time God is good!”
