Amazingly enough, it was still listed. And still belonged to their friends, who lived in Ohio at the time. The very next day, they came to visit.
I don't remember too much about that visit, but I do remember one conversation us kids had outside. Steven, who is one year older than me, asked me pointedly, "What religion are you?"
Me: "Christian."
Steven: "Noo...what KIND of Christian are you?"
Me: "What are you talking about? I'm a Christian-Christian."
Stephen: "Noooooo...like are you a Brethren or Baptist or ...what?"
Me (exasperated): "I'm JUST a Christian. The kind that believes in Jesus."
I'm pretty sure that he never relented on his view of my stupidity. And I'm pretty sure I went inside to ask my mom what the heck he was talking about.
Fast Forward 18 years.
When we lived in Texas, there was a long stretch of road with undeveloped fields on both sides. Undeveloped except for one thing: Churches. Of all denominations...even some of the SAME denomination.
Seven to be exact. All within 3/4 of a mile from each other.
Seven largely ornate churches, yards apart. Each displaying their own personal signs out front, listing their denomination. And if you turned off of the main road on to one of the side roads, there were even more.
Driving that road was always very thought-provoking for me. I couldn't help but to wonder what Jesus thought about all these different churches. All separate from each other. Independent of each other. Sometimes indifferent to the other.
And I, simply put, tend to think that it makes him sad.
For instance, let's say I had 8 children. And each of them had their own style of relating to me (as I'm sure they would). It would break my heart if they refused to come to a family gathering because their relationship with me was different than their brother's. And it would completely crush me if I heard them bickering and fighting and eventually "divorcing" themselves from each other because of those differences.
I may be a simpleton. But isn't that basically what the Church has done over time? Split off from one another because of her differences in relating to the Lord?
One church likes to clap. One doesn't. One likes faster worship music. Another only sings hymns. One dives into the gifts that He offers. Another one is content to be without them. One thinks that Christians will skip the End-Times stuff. Another one doesn't. One group holds fast to the idea of Free Will, while another says there is no such thing. And I won't even get started on the concept of "full gospel." As opposed to what? partial?
Amish, Brethren, Baptist, Catholic, Roman Catholic, Episcopalian, Pentecostal, Independent
Non-denominational, Protestant, Mennonite,...
The list of Christian sects is overwhelming to me. Can't it be that we're just unified? banded together with the sheer purpose of being like Christ to a world in need of him? of hating sin and bringing healing to the sinner?
The concept is overwhelming to me. as well as this picture that depicts it.
Yes, I realize that you can find any number of things on the Internet, whether true or not. But I do think this "tree" shows what the world sees. and what the "modern" church has become.
That to be a "Christian" can mean many things...that no one seems to agree on what that should look like.
And all I can say is, "Seriously. I just don't get it."
I know, I know...I'm sure that there are all sorts of deep, theological reasons as to why there was a church split...and another...and another.
But come on. Let's get real. Is Christianity more about us wanting to feel comfortable and surrounding ourselves with like-mindedness? Or about renewing our minds so that we can reflect the Mind of Christ?
...Because I'm fairly sure He isn't double minded, unlike the representation the American church is giving.
Again, I just don't get it. And I have to admit, if someone asked me what religion I was, I'd still have the same answer I did all those years ago. I'm a Christian. A Christian-Christian.
I don't want to be about denominations. I want to be about Jesus.
Something in me seriously doubts that in heaven, there will be the Baptist section and the Pentecostal section, etc....
And didn't Jesus teach us to pray "On Earth as it is in Heaven?"
