Disciples understand
Church to be inclusive. That means that “...
church appears whenever the believers in Jesus Christ are gathered in his name.”
(Pg 7 THE NATURE OF THE CHURCH pamphlet
by James O. Duke). Sadly, so much is still
spent on bickering, arguments, even insults among Christian churches. We all share
such richness in Jesus Christ. Can we
not learn from each other? Do we not
learn from each other in our own community?
We are different, each of us, but gathered together in the presence of
Jesus, the church appears.
Inclusiveness is a wonderful
insight into human possibility. Our very
distinctiveness when brought together in common belief in Jesus, creates
community.
This open understanding of
the universal Church is a rich hearing of the symphony of possibilities in Christianity.
The New Testament gives us ample examples of differing directions and
understandings of Jesus, beginning while Jesus was alive. History offers examples of differences in every
age. Disciples hold the base
teaching that “…the church appears whenever the believers in Jesus Christ are
gathered in his name.” This is a matter of pride to me. I am a member of the
Disciples of Christ, who recognize the richness in the melodies of the
universal Church. And, yes, it is a
challenge to listen to the other music in this Christian symphony.
Mark 9:38-40. “John said to him, ‘Teacher,
we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him
because he does not follow us.’ Jesus replied, ‘Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in
my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us.’”
What would you think would be the ground of exclusion from the
universal church?
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