RomansSample

One Body In Christ

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. – Rom 11:17-18

Christianity has been around for more than 2000 years now… and what began as an undivided church has over time split into many denominations. We are divided by differences in styles of worship, differences in church structures, and differences in theology. Should these differences cause divisions? Do we need to be homogenous in our beliefs to be able to worship together?

When the church began as a Jewish institution, it was probably relatively homogenous. Its members had put their faith in Christ, but still followed the Torah and Jewish customs. But once Gentiles were let into the church, homogeneity came to an end. Diversity wasn’t easy. Paul had to admonish Jewish Christians for trying to force the Gentile believers into their mold by insisting on circumcision and Torah observance. As the number of Gentile believers increased, he had to also admonish the Gentiles for being arrogant in their attitude towards the Jews in their midst. But his solution was never to have the two groups worship separately. 

Paul used the metaphor of an olive tree in Romans 11 to describe the church. He reminded the Roman Christians that both Gentiles and Jews were branches on the same olive tree. The Gentiles weren’t to look down on the Jews but were to remember that the tree that is the church was rooted in the Old Testament promises to the Jewish nation. And the Jews weren’t to impose additional requirements on the Gentiles, because they were already grafted in as branches into the tree. He expected that they learn to get along with each other despite their differences because they were bound together in one body in Christ.

If Jews and Gentiles, who wouldn’t even socialize with each other before, could fellowship together once they became Christian, do we really have good reason to be divided? Can we, whether Protestant or Catholic; Methodist, Baptist or non-denominational; accept each other as fellow believers who are fully accepted by God? Can we be united because of our common roots instead of being divided by our different ideologies?

There is only one body of Christ. We are all members of that one body. 

How do you relate with Christians who think differently from you?